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Chicken Bacon Pumpkin Pasta Bake bring pulled out of pan with a spoon.

Chicken Bacon Pumpkin Pasta Bake


  • Author: Pinch of Yum
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8-10 (nutrition info is for 10 servings) 1x

Description

Chicken Bacon Pumpkin Pasta Bake! Caramelized onions make for a rich and velvety pumpkin sauce to blanket that shredded chicken with love.


Ingredients

Scale

For the Pumpkin Sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 yellow onion
  • a splash of white wine (optional)
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 18 ounces pumpkin puree (about 2 cups)
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons rubbed sage
  • a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg (or just ground)
  • freshly cracked black pepper to taste

For the Pasta:

  • 1 lb. uncooked pasta
  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup Mozzarella or other white melty cheese
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • crumbled, cooked bacon (as much or little as you want)
  • parsley for topping

Instructions

  1. Caramelize the onions: Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Cut the onion into thin slices and add to the melted butter in the pan. Keeping the heat on medium-low, cook the onions until they are caramelized and deep golden brown, about 20-30 minutes. You can add a splash of white wine as they’re cooking to get a little extra sweetness.
  2. Make the sauce: Puree the garlic, pumpkin, chicken broth, milk, olive oil, salt, sage, nutmeg, and pepper in a blender until smooth. Add to the caramelized onions in the pan and cook until heated through.
  3. Prep pasta and chicken: Cook the pasta according to package directions, stopping a little early so they are still firm enough to hold their shape in the oven. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil and add the chicken, cooking for 10-15 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink. Remove from the water; when cool enough to handle, shred the chicken.
  4. Assemble and bake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Toss the cooked pasta, chicken, and bacon with the pumpkin sauce and 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese. Transfer to a greased 9×13 baking dish, top with remaining cheese and cover with greased foil to prevent sticking. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and let stand a few minutes before serving.
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Dinner
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: chicken bacon pumpkin pasta, pumpkin pasta bake, bacon pumpkin pasta