This Cheesy Pasta Bake With Chicken And Bacon

It is a family favourite (and it makes great leftovers too!). Not a lot can beat a lovely cheesy pasta bake served up with a big side of salad (obviously that makes it healthy.......)

Cheesy Pasta Bake With Chicken And Bacon is one of those dinners that the kids can polish off in no time - regardless of how many veggies I sneak in there. Peppers, onions, tomatoes, spinach - it all gets thrown in.Sometimes I'll add courgette or kale. If I'm being extra sneaky I might add some finely chopped mushroom too (I'm the only mushroom lover in our house - but they all eat mushrooms if they can't identify them hee hee hee!).

INGREDIENTS

1. 400 g (4 ½ cups) dried pasta shapes
2. 1 tbsp vegetable oil
3. 3 large chicken breasts
4. 1 large onion 
5. 1 red bell pepper 
6. 1 yellow bell pepper 
7. pinch of salt and pepper
8. 2 cloves garlic
9. 1 tbsp tomato puree
10. ½ tsp dried oregano
11. ½ tsp dried thyme
12. 800 g (28 oz) tinned chopped tomatoes
13. 120 ml (½ cup) double (heavy) cream
14. 100 g (3 cups) fresh baby spinach
15. 6 rashers cooked bacon
16. 100 g (1 cup minus 1 tbsp) strong cheddar cheese 
17. 100 g (1 cup minus 1 tbsp) mozzarella

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INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F (fan).
   Boil a large pan of water and cook the pasta for 1 minute less than recommended on the pack. Drain.
   400 g (4 ½ cups) dried pasta shapes
   Whilst the pasta is cooking, heat the oil on a medium heat, in a large frying pan. Add the chicken, and cook until just sealed - about 5 minutes.
   1 tbsp vegetable oil,3 large chicken breasts
   Add the onion and cook for a further 3-4 minutes until the onion is softened.
   1 large onion

• Add the chopped peppers, salt, pepper, garlic, tomato puree, oregano and thyme. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  1 red bell pepper,1 yellow bell pepper,pinch of salt and pepper,2 cloves garlic,1 tbsp tomato puree,½ tsp dried oregano,½ tsp dried thyme

• Stir in the tinned tomatoes and cream, bring to a gentle bubble, then add the pasta, spinach and cooked bacon. Stir everything together, then transfer to a large baking dish.
  800 g (28 oz) tinned chopped tomatoes,120 ml (½ cup) double (heavy) cream,100 g (3 cups) fresh baby spinach,6 rashers cooked bacon
• Top with the cheddar and mozzarella, and place in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is golden brown.
  100 g (1 cup minus 1 tbsp) strong cheddar cheese,100 g (1 cup minus 1 tbsp) mozzarella
• Take out of the oven and top with parsley before serving.
  small bunch parsley