Southwestern chicken-Pasta Bake
(from Froggie75’s recipe box)
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/southwestern-chicken-pasta-bake
Source: All You magazine-July 2013 (from RecipeThing user lisasikkema) (from RecipeThing user GEORGE)
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Serves 10 people
Categories: Chicken, Dinner, Favorite
Ingredients
- Salt $
- 12 ounces linguine $
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter $
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped $
- 1/2 onion, diced $
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 6-oz. can tomato paste $
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour $
- 4 cups milk $
- 1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
- 2 cups four-cheese Mexican blend
- 4 cups diced cooked chicken (from a rotisserie bird)
- Chopped cilantro, optional
Directions
-
Preheat oven to 350°F; mist a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, about 10 minutes or as package directs. Drain.
-
Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper, onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder and 2 tsp. salt; sauté until onion is tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes longer.
-
Whisk in flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook, whisking, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Add diced tomatoes and 1 cup cheese. Cook, whisking, for 1 minute or until cheese melts.
-
Remove from heat. Stir in chicken and pasta. Scrape into baking dish; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake until bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes. (Preheat broiler to high and broil casserole for a minute to brown, if desired.) Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired; serve.