Cheesy Chicken & Hidden Veggie Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A comforting baked pasta with ground chicken and pureed carrots and peas hidden in a creamy cheese sauce, perfect for picky eaters. This American-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs penne pasta, ground chicken, pureed carrots for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 30 min Serves 4 American cuisine 420 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add 8 oz penne pasta, and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 lb ground chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon, until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 1/2 cup pureed carrots, 1/2 cup pureed peas, 1 cup chicken broth, 1/2 cup milk, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp dried thyme, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly.
  4. Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup shredded cheddar and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan until melted and smooth.
  5. Step 5: Add the drained penne pasta to the sauce and toss until evenly coated. Transfer to a greased baking dish and bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.

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