About
Chicken Bacon Pumpkin Pasta Bake takes the idea of a classic pasta bake and adds a sprinkling of fall festivity into each bite! Instead of tomatoes, Chicken Bacon Pumpkin Pasta Bake uses a pumpkin base for its rich, savory sauce, with notes of sage for a true holiday flavor. Seared chicken, crispy bacon, tender pasta; everything gets enhanced when coated in this pumpkin powerhouse and topped with some cheese. Falling head over heels for this bake is as easy as enjoying it!
Ingredients
- For the pumpkin sauce:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 yellow onion, cut into thin slices
- white wine, optional, to taste
- 1 clove garlic
- 18 ounces pumpkin puree
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sage, rubbed
- nutmeg, freshly grated, to taste
- cracked black pepper, to taste
- For the pasta:
- 1 pound pasta, uncooked
- 1 pound chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- bacon, to taste, cooked, and crumbled
- 1 cup mozzarella, divided
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- parsley, optional, for topping
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 -Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Step 3 -In a large skillet over medium-low heat, heat the butter until melted.
Step 4 -Add the onion to the melted butter and cook until the onions are caramelized and deep-golden brown, about 20-30 minutes.
Step 5 -Add the white wine to the onion mixture and stir to combine.
Step 6 -In a blender, add the garlic, the pumpkin, the chicken broth, the milk, the olive oil, the salt, the sage, the nutmeg, and the pepper and puree until smooth.
Step 7 -Add the pumpkin mixture to the caramelized onions in the pan and cook until heated through.
Step 8 -Cook the pasta according to the package directions to just shy of al dente. Drain the pasta.
Step 9 -Bring a pot of water to a boil.
Step 10 -Add the chicken and cook until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink, about 15-20 minutes.
Step 11 -Transfer the chicken from the water and allow it to cool until it can be handled.
Step 12 -Shred the chicken.
Step 13 -Toss the cooked pasta, the chicken, and the bacon with the pumpkin sauce and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella.
Step 14 -Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Step 15 -Top the mixture with the remaining mozzarella and the parmesan.
Step 16 -Cover the baking dish with greased foil and bake until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling, about 15-20 minutes.
Step 17 -Sprinkle with the parsley and serve.
