Costco Chicken Bake Pasta Recipe

This Costco Chicken Bake Pasta is a creamy and decadent recipe, which features savory Caesar dressing and smoky bacon. It’s a comfort food mashup, ready in about 30 minutes.

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Costco Chicken Bake Pasta Ingredients

• 1 lb (450g) penne pasta (or rotini)
• 2 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed or shredded (rotisserie is perfect)
• 8 strips bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
• 1 ½ cups creamy Caesar dressing
• ½ cup heavy cream (or sour cream, to stabilize the sauce)
• 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese, divided
• ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced (optional, for authentic filling flavor)
• 1 cup garlic croutons, roughly crushed (for the “crust” topping)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp black pepper

How To Make Costco Chicken Bake Pasta

1. Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook until al dente (usually 1–2 minutes less than the package instructions), as it will continue cooking in the oven. Drain and return to the pot.
2. Preheat the oven: While the pasta cooks, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
3. Make the sauce mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the Caesar dressing, heavy cream, garlic powder, black pepper, and half of the Parmesan cheese (approx. ⅓ cup). The cream helps thin the dressing slightly so it coats the pasta evenly without becoming greasy.
4. Combine ingredients: Pour the sauce mixture over the cooked pasta in the pot. Add the chopped chicken, half of the bacon crumbles, 1 cup of the Mozzarella cheese, and the green onions (if using). Stir gently until everything is well coated and creamy.
5. Assemble the bake: Transfer the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out into an even layer.
6. Add toppings: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of Mozzarella and the remaining Parmesan cheese over the top. Scatter the remaining bacon crumbles evenly. Finally, top with the crushed garlic croutons. This step is crucial as the croutons mimic the crispy Parmesan bread crust of the original bake.
7. Bake until bubbly: Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the croutons are golden brown.
8. Serve warm: Let the pasta rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken slightly.

Recipe Tips

• The Crouton Hack: The original Chicken Bake is famous for its crust. Crushing store-bought garlic croutons and baking them on top of the pasta provides that exact savory crunch and flavor without needing to make dough.
• Sauce consistency: Caesar dressing can sometimes separate when heated. Adding the heavy cream or sour cream helps emulsify the sauce, ensuring it stays creamy and rich rather than oily.
• Salt warning: Caesar dressing, bacon, and Parmesan are all salty. Taste your mixture before adding any extra salt; usually, you won’t need any.
• Vegetable addition: To make this a complete meal, you can stir in 2 cups of fresh baby spinach or frozen peas during step 4.

What To Serve With Costco Chicken Bake Pasta

Since this dish is rich and carb-heavy, lighter sides work best.

• Steamed Broccoli: A fresh, green counterpoint to the cheese.
• Garden Salad: With a light vinaigrette (not Caesar, as the pasta is already Caesar-flavored).
• Fruit Salad: Cleanses the palate.
• Roasted Tomatoes: The acidity cuts through the creamy sauce.

How To Store Costco Chicken Bake Pasta

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freeze: You can freeze the baked pasta (without the croutons) for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Add fresh croutons before reheating.
• Reheat: Reheat portions in the microwave, or bake the whole dish covered with foil at 350°F until warm.

Costco Chicken Bake Pasta Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 650kcal
• Protein: 32g
• Carbohydrates: 55g
• Fat: 34g
• Saturates: 12g
• Sugar: 4g
• Salt: 1.6g

Nutrition information is estimated per serving (based on 6 servings).

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