Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

I'll be trying this bad boy real soon!!!

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Prep15 min.
Cook40 min.
Yield:4 servings .
Level:Easy..

Ingredients
1 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup cubed chicken breast (1-inch cubes)
1/2 cup diced onion (about 1/2 a small onion)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.


Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta into a large mixing bowl.


Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, stirring to combine, and cook until the onions are soft and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Put the chicken mixture into the bowl with the cooked pasta. Add the canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Place the mixture in a buttered 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking dish. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. Dot the top with small bits of butter. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

Looks delish......but ummmm you know that's not pastina right???

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

Posted by MrsS6510

Looks delish......but ummmm you know that's not pastina right???

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

i have no idea what pastina is

i got the recipe from foodnetwork and that was the picture they had with the recipe

i think i might douple the recipe
thoughts?

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

Pastina is like a big grain of rice - pasta though. Its what babies eat first - like orzo.

Its very odd that they would use a different pasta then the recipe...

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

I wouldn't use pastina for that recioe... looks good with the elbow pasta in the pic!

Thanks for sharing!!

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

Posted by MRsFaTThead

i have no idea what pastina is

i got the recipe from foodnetwork and that was the picture they had with the recipe

i think i might douple the recipe
thoughts?

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

That looks soo good! Thank you for posting- I'm notebooking this now for next week's menu!

I used to love pastina when I was little. But I think I'll make it with the elbow macaroni.

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

I've had that recipe bookmarked for at least two years but haven't actually made it yet! Maybe soon!

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

I am so trying this soon--thank you! Looks yummy

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

I have actually made this with the pastina, and it didn't turn out good!

I was looking for recipes with Pastina since I had a box left over from DD. And I didn't understand why they show it with a different pasta in the pic.

Let me know how it turns out with regular pasta and I may try it again.

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

Posted by MrsS6510

Looks delish......but ummmm you know that's not pastina right???

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

I made this tonight with elbow pasta and it was DELISH!!!

The only thing I would do different next time is add more mozzarella and use less of the juice that comes in the can of diced tomatoes... it made it a little runny.

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

This is really good! One of the things I make at least once a month. But I double the recipe, add tomato sauce and garlic, cook in two dishes and freeze one - then we always have two meals. Super easy, and I use pasta with it. :)

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

I agree, the elbow pasta looks a lot better! Pastina is my ultimate comfort food. With a little butter and a little salt, so many great memories of eating this as a kid! As a baby, I called them "star deans".

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

I just bought all the ingredients and plan on making it this week!!

Please continue posting your recipes- you always find the best ones!!

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

Im eating this right now. Delish and super easy.

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

I made this Monday. Used Elbows. We liked it. I didn't love it. But I would probably make it again.

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

I wouldn't use pastina..it would probably be too mushy. Elbow or spiral probably work best..looks good.

Re: Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

omg that looks delicious! yum