This creamy lemon chicken pasta bake has so much tastiness going on from the tarragon lemon cream sauce that wraps together the pasta, chicken and spinach. Plus, you can serve it either straight up, while the sauce is creamier, or baked with added mozzarella for a cheesier bake. Either way, all delicious.
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Pasta is a meal that everyone in our house enjoys. If we have a little more time, the kids love helping to make some fresh pasta, whether plain or with a twist like fresh spinach pasta or pumpkin pasta, or some ravioli like crab ravioli.
More often or not, we go simple by using store bought pasta, but at least with homemade arugula pesto. But sometimes I change things up like spaghetti alla carbonara with mushrooms or pasta puttanesca.
Recently, since I had some leftover tarragon from making baked tarragon chicken, I wondered if I could use some for a sauce beyond just chicken.
After a little digging and thinking, I came up with this creamy lemon chicken pasta bake, and it was one delicious meal.
A tastier cream sauce
Now I know others may not agree but I have to say I'm not generally that big a fan of a basic cream sauce. At least not on it's own. It's naturally a great base for other dishes, but it needs some additions, in my mind.
The tarragon lemon cream sauce here has just the right amount of additions without being overly complicated, and they all work so well together. It uses a combination of garlic, wine, tarragon, cream and a little softened onion as the base.
A quick pasta sauce or pasta bake?
Since the sauce here has such great flavor, this dish definitely works to serve right after adding everything in to the sauce. And I have to say I have every intention of using this sauce in other dishes as well.
Before I made this, however, I had a pasta bake in mind, so I added some mozzarella, topped with parmesan and baked. The sauce dries a little, so it's less "saucy" but the cheese gives a lovely additional flavor and stringy goodness.
Really, just go with your mood, as both ways are delicious!
How to make this creamy lemon chicken pasta bake
This dish might take a little longer than some pasta dishes, but it comes together easily and is worth the extra effort.
- Set the pasta to cook - drain once al dente.
- Cook the diced chicken in butter then set aside.
- Add a little more butter and soften the onion and garlic.
- Deglaze with the wine, add the lemon juice and zest, tarragon and cream. Warm but don't boil the sauce.
- Wilt the spinach in the sauce and add back the chicken.
- Add the cooked pasta, mix through and remove from heat.
- You can serve at this point, or else add mozzarella, transfer to baking dish, top with parmesan and bake.
The tarragon lemon cream sauce goes so well with the pasta, chicken and spinach. If baked, the slight crunch on top and stringy mozzarella just add to the comfort factor.
This creamy lemon chicken pasta bake is so comforting and packed with flavor. Don't ever think pasta night needs to be boring again.
Looking for more comforting pasta dishes? Try these!
- Pulled pork stuffed shells
- Cheesy orzo pasta bake
- Plus find many more comforting dishes in the winter recipes archives.
I used this rectangular baking dish for this recipe which was a great fit.
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
Creamy lemon chicken pasta bake
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta (I used penne but as you prefer)
- 8 oz chicken (white or brown meat fine)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ onion finely diced
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tablespoon white wine
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ lemon zest (ie from ½ lemon)
- 2 tablespoon tarragon chopped fresh
- ½ cup cream suggest heavy/double but as you prefer)
- 2 oz spinach (2oz is about 2 cups, fairly well packed), roughly chopped if larger leaves
- 4 oz mozzarella cut/broken into small pieces (omit if not baking)
- ¼ cup parmesan (approx, omit if not baking)
Instructions
- If you will be making into a bake, preheat oven to 400F/200C.
- Set the pasta to cook according to packet instructions. Drain once al dente and set aside.
- Meanwhile, dice the chicken into a small bite-sized dice. Melt half the butter in a medium skillet/frying pan and cook the chicken until just cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add the rest of the butter to the skillet and soften the onion and garlic.
- Deglaze the pan with the wine, add the lemon juice and zest, tarragon and cream. Warm but don't boil the sauce.
- Wilt the spinach in the sauce and add back the chicken.
- Add the cooked pasta, mix through and remove from heat.
- You can serve at this point, or else to make as a bake, add the mozzarella, mix through and transfer to baking dish. Top with parmesan and bake for approx 20 minutes until lightly brown on top.
Nutrition
Get more baked pasta ideas:
- Cavatini by Palatable Pastime
- Cheesy Artichoke Ravioli Casserole by Food Lust People Love
- Cheesy Vegetable Pasta Bake by Cook with Renu
- Macarona Bechamel (Egyptian Baked Pasta) by Tara's Multicultural Table
- Meatless Lasagna by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Mushroom And Artichoke Pasta Bake by Oventales
- Rakott teszta (Hungarian Layered Noodles) by Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
- Sausage and Spinach Lasagna by Cookaholic Wife
- Spiralized Sweet Potato Macaroni and Cheese by Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Turkey Ham Mac and Cheese by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Turkey Tetrazzini by Reviews, Chews & How-Tos
Remember to pin for later!
sneha datar
I love the lemony flavor in this pasta bake dish.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, it is a great flavor.
Cindy
I love lemon and chicken together. So good!
Caroline's Cooking
I agree, they work so well.
Karen
I love fresh tarragon and hate to waste it when I can get it. This pasta bake sounds like a delicious way to use the leftover herb!
Caroline's Cooking
I know what you mean, it has a great flavor but I need to build a better list of ways to use it so I don't waste it! This and my tarragon chicken are musts, though, now.
Sonia
This looks and sounds super delicious and full of amazing flavors! I am missing terragon ..will add that to my grocery list! Definitely trying it! Yum
Caroline's Cooking
I think even without the tarragon it would be great, but it does add a great flavor as well. Hope you enjoy.
Jennifer
This chicken pasta bake was so delicious! My family loved it! I will be making this again!
Caroline's Cooking
Glad to hear!
Danielle
This tarragon lemon cream sauce sounds like delicious - now I want to use that flavor combination in other recipes too! I love the combo of ingredients in this casserole, especially with the chicken and spinach to make it healthy.
Caroline's Cooking
I really need to use the sauce for other things as well, it's such a great flavor.
Vicky
Yum, lemon chicken is one of my favorite dishes. I just love the flavors. Adding pasta to it and Parmesan just makes it even better.
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, it's such a wonderfully tasty and comforting mix.
Jill
I'm loving all the flavors in this pasta bake. I have a recipe for chicken tarragon that my whole family enjoys, so I know they'll love this pasta bake!
Caroline's Cooking
We have tarragon chicken too, but the sauce is a bit different in the one I make. But this sauce is so tasty and works wonderfully with the chicken and pasta.
Lynda Hardy
The tarragon lemon cream sauce sounds marvelous!
Caroline's Cooking
Thanks, it's such a great sauce.