DUMP-AND-BAKE SPRING PASTA

​Dump-and-Bake Spring Pasta 

This Yummy Recipe: The Seasoned Mom 

The most delicious, fresh and healthy Dump and Bake Spring Pasta that's packed full of nutritious vegetables and kids love it!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 246.6 kcal

Ingredients

1 cup diced cooked chicken*
1 14 ounce can quartered artichokes, drained
1 cup diced fresh asparagus about 10 spears
½ cup grated carrots I used a bag of "matchstick carrots" from the produce section as a shortcut
1 ½ cups uncooked penne pasta
1 ¾ cups low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth for a vegetarian option
½ cup loosely-packed chopped fresh chives or green onions divided
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley divided
2 teaspoons minced garlic
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup fresh or frozen peas
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese divided

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220C). Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
In the prepared dish (or in a separate bowl), stir together cooked chicken, artichoke hearts, asparagus, carrots, uncooked pasta, chicken broth, about half of the chives, half of the parsley, minced garlic, and salt, and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan.

Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes.

Uncover; stir. At this point you should check the pasta to make sure that it is al dente (firm but just about finished cooking). If it's still too hard, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is al dente. Then move on to the next step.

Stir in the frozen peas and sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan over the top. Bake uncovered for 5-10 more minutes (or until pasta is tender).

Garnish with remaining chives and parsley just before serving.
Recipe Notes
Cooking Just for Two? Cut the ingredients in half and bake the pasta in a 1-quart casserole dish. 

The cooking instructions remain the same.
Use frozen and pre-prepped vegetables to cut down the prep time.
Use a rotisserie chicken to make things easier or leftover roast chicken.
Omit the chicken for a vegetarian option.
I used penne pasta but any short pasta shape will do.

Nutrition Facts
Dump-and-Bake Spring Pasta

Amount Per Serving (1 /4 of the recipe)
Calories 246.6Calories from Fat 20

% Daily Value*
Fat 2.2g3%
Saturated Fat 0.6g4%
Cholesterol 21.5mg7%
Sodium 507mg22%
Carbohydrates 44.5g15%
Fiber 10g42%
Sugar 4.1g5%
Protein 17.6g35%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.