Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake with Sun-Dried Tomatoes — The Ultimate Winter Comfort Food!

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a recipe developer and someone who genuinely finds comfort in cozy winter dinners, it’s that nothing—and I mean nothing—beats a warm, creamy pasta bake bubbling straight out of the oven. This pesto pasta bake chicken sundried tomatoes combination is my go-to comfort meal every winter, and writing this recipe for the blog today honestly brought me right back to the feeling of standing next to a warm oven on a cold December evening.

There’s something magical about combining simple, clean ingredients into something that tastes truly indulgent. And while I test dozens of recipes every month, this winter comfort food dish always stays in my rotation because it checks every box: it’s healthy, clean eating, creamy, flavorful, high-protein, and so easy to prepare. Plus, it turns into the kind of dinner you will crave again and again.

So today, I’m sharing a fully updated, expert-tested, home-cook-approved version of my favorite Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake with Sun-Dried Tomatoes. And trust me—you’ll want to bookmark this recipe for your winter weeknights.

This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. Please read our full disclosure here to find out more.

---

Why This Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake Is the Ultimate Winter Dinner

Pasta bakes naturally sit at the top of the winter food pyramid (yes, that’s a real thing in my kitchen). They’re warm, golden, cheesy, and satisfying, yet I’ve made this version truly balanced by using clean ingredients and healthier cooking swaps. The result? A meal that tastes like indulgent comfort food but fuels your body the way a healthy, clean-eating dinner should.

• Warm & cozy: Exactly what you want on a chilly winter night.
• High protein: Lean chicken breast keeps it satisfying.
• Perfect for meal prep: Leftovers taste even better the next day.
• Family-friendly: Kids and adults both love it.
• Clean eating approved: Simple ingredients—no fillers.

But what really pushes this dish over the top is the flavor combination: creamy pesto, juicy chicken, and the tangy brightness of sun-dried tomatoes. It’s winter comfort food—but elevated.

---

Clean Eating Twists That Keep This Recipe Healthy

One of my goals with comfort food recipes is to keep them nourishing without sacrificing flavor. After years of recipe testing, these swaps have become my reliable secrets:

• Whole-wheat or chickpea pasta: Adds more fiber and protein.
• Greek yogurt or light cream: Gives creaminess without heaviness.
• Olive-oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes: Cleaner and more flavorful.
• Homemade or clean pesto: No preservatives, just basil, garlic, olive oil, and nuts.
• Spinach added in: A boost of nutrients without changing flavor.

With these upgrades, this becomes a meal that you can enjoy on a regular basis—guilt-free.

---

Ingredients You’ll Need (Exact Measurements)

Here’s everything you need for this delicious winter pasta bake. These measurements serve 4–6 people:

• 12 oz (340 g) whole-wheat or chickpea pasta (penne or rigatoni)
• 2 cups cooked shredded or diced chicken breast
• 1 cup basil pesto (homemade or clean store-bought)
• 1 cup light cream OR 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and sliced
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (for sautéing)

I’ve cooked this recipe dozens of times and trust me: these measurements hit the perfect creamy-to-pasta ratio.

---

Step-by-Step: How to Make the Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta Bake

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook the pasta in salted water until slightly undercooked (about 1 minute shy of al dente). It will finish cooking in the oven.
3. Sauté garlic in olive oil over medium heat for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Add the cooked chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach. Stir until spinach softens.
5. In a large bowl, mix pesto, light cream (or Greek yogurt), Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth.
6. Add pasta + chicken mixture into the bowl and toss everything until fully coated.
7. Transfer to a baking dish and top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
8. Bake for 20–25 minutes or until bubbly and golden on top.
9. Rest for 5 minutes before serving to help the sauce set.

The creaminess, the aroma, the golden cheesy top—yes, this is pure winter food bliss.

---

Chef’s Notes & Helpful Tips

• Slightly undercook the pasta to avoid mushiness.
• Add chili flakes for a spicy winter kick.
• Use rotisserie chicken for an easy shortcut.
• For extra veggies: Add broccoli or mushrooms.

---

My Favorite Tools for Making This Recipe (Amazon Picks)

In my kitchen, quality tools make all the difference—especially with baked pasta dishes. Here are the products I personally love and recommend:

1. Cuisinart 3-Quart Ceramic Baking Dish

This ceramic casserole dish distributes heat evenly and keeps your pasta bake warm for a long time—perfect for winter dinners. It also cleans easily and looks beautiful on the table.

👉 Get the Cuisinart Baking Dish on Amazon

2. OXO Grater & Zester

You’ll appreciate this tool for freshly grating Parmesan on top of your creamy pesto pasta bake. The sharp stainless steel surface makes food prep quick and effortless.

👉 Shop the OXO Grater on Amazon

3. Barilla Whole-Wheat Penne Pasta

If you want your dish to stay clean eating approved while still feeling like comfort food, this is the pasta I recommend. It holds sauce beautifully and has a great texture.

👉 Buy Barilla Whole-Wheat Penne on Amazon

---

Variations & Flavor Boosts

One of the best things about pasta bakes is how flexible they are. Once you’ve mastered the base, try these fun twists:

• Spicy Pesto Bake: Add chili oil or crushed red pepper.
• Veggie-Loaded Version: Add mushrooms, broccoli, or zucchini.
• Protein Swaps: Use ground turkey, shrimp, or tofu.
• Dairy-Free: Use coconut cream + dairy-free mozzarella.
• Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free penne.

All variations still keep the dish cozy, wholesome, and perfect for winter.

---

How to Serve Your Winter Pasta Bake

Here are my favorite ways to turn this into a complete dinner:

• Serve with a simple green salad.
• Add roasted asparagus or broccoli on the side.
• Pair with warm garlic bread if you want full comfort mode.

---

How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat

This dish is fantastic for meal prep—another reason it’s ideal for winter cooking.

• Store: Refrigerate for 3–4 days in an airtight container.
• Freeze: Freeze up to 2 months (wrap tightly).
• Reheat: Warm in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for best results.

The pasta stays creamy and flavorful even after reheating—one of the reasons I keep making it on repeat during cold months.

---

Final Thoughts

This creamy pesto pasta bake with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes is everything winter comfort food should be—rich, warm, wholesome, and nourishing. It’s a clean eating dinner that tastes indulgent but still uses simple, healthy ingredients that leave you feeling satisfied without the heaviness.

I hope this becomes one of your new winter staples, just like it is in my own kitchen. If you make it, be sure to enjoy that first warm, creamy bite and appreciate how much flavor you created from such simple ingredients—because that’s the true joy of cooking.