Enjoy this delightful dish featuring tender seasoned strips of chicken breast, complemented by garlicky mushrooms and aromatic tarragon, all embraced in a lighter creamy sauce. Toss this delectable blend with pasta, generously sprinkle with cheese, and bake until golden perfection in the oven.
Calories in Chicken, Mushroom and Tarragon Pasta Bake
This Pasta Bake serves 4 and is 569 calories per serving.
If you're looking for more recipes within the same calorie range, you'll find an abundance of options in my dedicated collection of 500+ calorie recipes.
If you're following a calorie-controlled diet or a healthy eating plan, it's important to calculate your daily calorie intake using a reliable calorie calculator. Please note that the calorie counts provided are estimates and can vary based on specific ingredients and serving sizes. Personalizing your calculations is essential to meet your individual needs. By using a calorie calculator, you can make informed choices and stay on track with your dietary goals.
Ingredients Needed
Here are some notes on the ingredients used in this recipe:
- Chicken Breasts: Lean cuts of poultry that provide a good source of protein. They contribute to the heartiness of the dish and absorb flavours well during cooking, adding a satisfying texture.
- Mushrooms: Offer earthy tones and a meaty texture to the dish. They're rich in nutrients and enhance the overall flavour profile, complementing the chicken and pasta.
- Onion: Adds a sweet and savory base flavour to the dish. When cooked, onions become tender and release their natural sweetness, providing depth to the sauce.
- Garlic: Infuses aromatic flavour into the dish and pairs well with chicken and mushrooms. It enhances the savory elements of the sauce and adds a subtle depth of flavor.
- Pasta (Fusilli): A spiral-shaped pasta that holds sauces effectively. It provides a substantial base for the dish, absorbing the flavors of the sauce while offering a pleasing texture.
- Chicken Stock, Semi-Skimmed Milk: A combination of liquids that adds richness and creaminess to the sauce. Chicken stock provides savoury depth, while semi-skimmed milk contributes creaminess without excessive fat. It's essential to use the correct ratio of stock cubes to water, as not all stock cubes are identical. Using too few can lead to a bland, watery broth, while too many may create a stock that's overly salty.
- Light Cream Cheese: Adds creaminess to the sauce without adding too many calories. It helps to thicken the sauce while providing a rich and luxurious texture.
- Dijon Mustard: Offers a tangy and slightly pungent flavor to the dish. It enhances the sauce's complexity and adds a subtle kick of acidity.
- Dried Tarragon: Provides a hint of licorice-like flavour and aroma to the dish. It complements the other ingredients, especially the chicken and mushrooms, adding depth to the overall taste.
- Parmesan Cheese, Grated: This cheese is incorporated into the creamy sauce, contributing a nutty and salty flavor. It melts into the sauce, adding richness and depth.
- Cheddar: This cheese is used to create a golden, cheesy topping for the pasta bake. As it melts and bakes, it forms a deliciously crispy layer on top of the dish, adding both visual appeal and rich flavour.
- Fresh Chopped Parsley: Adds brightness and freshness to the dish. It provides a vibrant contrast to the creamy sauce and adds a pop of color.
- Salt and Pepper - These basic yet essential flavour enhancers are key for elevating the taste of your dishes. No food will ever be bland when these are used to season to taste.
- Low Calorie Spray - Use your preferred choice of low calorie spray, I prefer olive oil or avocado sprays without any added emulsifiers.
Once you've gathered all the ingredients and prepared them accordingly, you're all set to create this easy and delightful recipe.
See the recipe card for specific quantities and instructions.
Variations, and Substitutes
Enhance your dish with these creative additions, variations, and substitutes to customize your recipe:
- Vegetables: Add diced bell peppers, spinach, or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavour and nutrition. Sauté them with the onions and mushrooms for a colourful twist.
- Protein: Substitute chicken breasts with cooked and shredded rotisserie chicken, cooked ground turkey, chicken thighs or pork. Additionally, for added depth and a smoky flavor, consider including cooked bacon or ham.
- Cheese: Experiment with a variety of options such as Gruyère, Gouda, or Mozzarella, and don't hesitate to combine different cheeses to create a more complex and indulgent flavor experience.
- Herbs: Switch up the herbs by using fresh basil, oregano, or thyme instead of dried tarragon. Fresh herbs add a burst of freshness and aroma to the dish.
- Pasta: While fusilli works well, you can try other pasta shapes like penne, rigatoni, or farfalle for variety. Gluten-free or whole wheat pasta can also be used for a healthier alternative.
- Spices: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a hint of heat or smoked paprika for a smoky flavor. Adjust the seasoning according to your taste preferences.
Customizing your dish with these variations, and substitutes allows you to create a personalized meal tailored to your taste preferences.
Sides for Chicken, Mushroom and Tarragon Pasta Bake
Here are some great suggestions to pair with this yummy pasta bake.
- Roasted Green Vegetables: A vibrant medley of roasted green vegetables offers a refreshing contrast to the creamy richness of the pasta bake. Prepare a tray of tender broccolini, sliced courgette (zucchini), green peppers, sprayed with olive oil spray, salt, and pepper. Roast them in the oven until caramelized and tender.
- Garlic Herb Roasted Potatoes: Indulge in the comforting goodness of garlic herb roasted potatoes alongside your pasta bake. Tossed in olive oil, minced garlic, fresh herbs (such as rosemary and thyme), salt, and pepper, these crispy roasted potatoes add a satisfying crunch and savory depth to your plate.
- Mixed Green Salad: Refresh your palate with a light and vibrant mixed green salad. Combine crisp lettuce leaves with baby spinach, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion or your own favourite salad combinations.
- Steamed Asparagus Spears: Delight in the tender-crisp texture and subtle sweetness of steamed asparagus spears. Simply steam the asparagus until tender, then spray with olive oil spray, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Roasted Green Beans - one of my favourite side dishes and it pairs well with almost anything.
More Pasta Bake Recipes
Are you in search of more low calorie Pasta Bake recipes? Look no further! Here are some great choices below:
- Mexican Pasta Bake
- Spinach Pasta Bake
- Cheesy Meatball Pasta Bake
- Creamy Beef Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Bake
- Creamy Garlic Chicken with Spinach Penne Pasta
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake
- BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Bake
or if you would like more recipe ideas - head on over to the FULL RECIPE INDEX where you will find over 900 delicious recipes with calories and you can search by meal type, ingredients, course, diet and more.
All recipes on Slimming Eats have estimated nutritional information for your convenience.
FAQ For Chicken, Mushroom and Tarragon Pasta Bake
While you can freeze this dish, it's important to note that the creamy sauce may thicken or dry out upon reheating. Additionally, reheated pasta can sometimes lose its desirable texture. For best results, it's recommended to enjoy the pasta bake fresh when cooked.
Absolutely! Fresh tarragon can provide a more pronounced flavor compared to dried tarragon. Use roughly three times the amount of fresh tarragon compared to dried in the recipe. Remember to chop it finely before adding it to the dish.
It's not recommended. Quark has a lower fat content and can split or curdle when heated, leading to an undesirable texture in the sauce. Stick with cream cheese for a creamy and smooth consistency.
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Recipe Card
Chicken Mushroom Tarragon Pasta Bake
Enjoy this flavorful pasta bake of tender chicken breast strips, garlicky mushrooms, and aromatic tarragon enveloped in a lighter creamy sauce, mixed with pasta, topped with cheese, and baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
- 240g (8.4oz) of uncooked pasta (I used fusilli)
- olive oil spray
- 400g (14oz) of chicken breast, sliced into small strips
- salt and black pepper to season
- 225g (8oz) of mushrooms, sliced
- 1 onion, cut in half and sliced thinly
- 3 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 300ml of chicken stock
- 300ml of semi skimmed milk
- 100g (3.5oz) of light cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon of dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons of dried tarragon
- 20g (0.7oz) of parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 100g (3.5oz) of mature cheddar, grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 170°C (fan), 190°C (conventional), 375°F or gas mark 5.
- Cook the pasta in a saucepan of salted boiling water until al dente, then drain. Toss the cooked pasta in olive oil spray and set aside.
- In a large deep frying pan sprayed with olive oil spray over a medium high heat, add the chicken and season wtih salt and black pepper and cook the chicken until lightly golden, remove and set aside.
- Spray the pan with more olive oil spray and add the onion, mushrooms, and garlic. Fry until softened and golden, using a little stock to prevent sticking and deglazing the bottom of the pan.
- Add tarragon, mustard, cream cheese, stock, and milk to the pan. Bring to a high bubble, stirring until the cream cheese is melted and the sauce is creamy (avoid reducing it too much as it will thicken further during baking).
- Stir the cooked chicken back into the sauce, then add parmesan cheese and season with salt and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to a baking dish, then stir in the cooked pasta until evenly combined. Sprinkle cheddar cheese on top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden.
- Enjoy your delicious meal!
Notes
Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:
- Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
- WW Points and other Slimming or Weight Loss programs - due to plans regularly changing and updating, we recommend calculating with the official tools you get as a member to those plans to ensure accuracy of values.
- Gluten Free - use gluten free pasta and stock
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1 SERVINGAmount Per Serving Calories 569Total Fat 17gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 99mgSodium 792mgCarbohydrates 58gFiber 4gSugar 8gProtein 45g
Nutritional information and values etc are an estimate and is to be used for informational purposes only. Ingredients can vary greatly from brand to brand and therefore it would be impossible to give accurate information. It is always advised that you calculate by the ingredients you use.
Emma says
This is amazing , so tasty . Even my husband who's not really into pasta bakes enjoyed this . Thank you for sharing your lovely recipe .
Sarah says
Made this evening
It was delicious
Soooo tasty x
Jan Addis says
Looking forward to making this but will it freeze ok?