Can I make this gluten free chicken carbonara pasta bake ahead of time?

Yes! You can assemble the entire pasta bake up to 24 hours ahead of time and store it covered tightly in the refrigerator before baking. When you are ready to bake pull it from the fridge while the oven preheats and add 5 to 10 minutes to the bake time since it will be going in cold. This makes it a great option for holiday entertaining and busy weeknights when you want to get the prep work done ahead of time and just pop it in the oven when you are ready to eat.

Can I use a different pasta shape for this recipe?

Yes! While gluten free penne works beautifully in this bake because the tubes hold onto the creamy carbonara sauce so well, you can substitute any short gluten free pasta shape you have on hand. Gluten free rigatoni, rotini, ziti, or shells all work well. Avoid long pasta shapes like spaghetti or fettuccine as they do not hold up as well in a baked pasta dish and are harder to mix and serve.

Can I leave out the peas?

Absolutely! The peas add a pop of color and a touch of sweetness that balances the richness of the carbonara sauce beautifully but if you are not a fan you can simply leave them out. You could also substitute frozen corn, chopped spinach, or diced roasted red peppers for a different flavor and color.

Is this recipe safe to eat with the eggs in the sauce?

Yes! Unlike traditional carbonara which relies on raw eggs tossed with hot pasta to create a creamy sauce, this recipe bakes the egg and cream mixture in the oven at 350 degrees which fully cooks the eggs through. The baked pasta is completely safe to eat and the eggs are what give the sauce its rich and custardy texture once baked.

Can I substitute the ricotta cheese in this recipe?

Yes! If you do not have ricotta on hand you can substitute cottage cheese for a similar creamy texture. Drain the cottage cheese well before using to remove excess liquid. Cream cheese is another option that will give you a slightly richer and denser sauce. Keep in mind that both substitutions will change the flavor slightly but the pasta bake will still be delicious and creamy.

Can I use store bought rotisserie chicken instead of cooking the chicken from scratch?

Absolutely and this is actually a great shortcut for busy weeknights! Simply shred or cube your rotisserie chicken and add it directly to the pan with the garlic, peas, and bacon to heat everything through. Using rotisserie chicken cuts down significantly on the prep time and makes this already easy gluten free pasta bake even faster to pull together.

Gluten Free Chicken Carbonara Pasta Bake

Name: Gluten Free Chicken Carbonara Pasta Bake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 ounce package Gluten Free Penne Pasta, cooked; 1 pound Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Breast, cubed and cooked; 1 Tbsp Olive Oil; 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic; 1 cup Frozen Peas; 8 slices Bacon, cooked and chopped; 1 cup Heavy Cream; 3 large Eggs; 8 ounces Ricotta Cheese; 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded; 3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, finely grated (divided); 1 tsp Salt; 1/2 tsp Black Pepper; 1/2 cup Gluten Free Bread Crumbs

Description

This easy gluten free chicken carbonara pasta bake is the ultimate comfort food dinner! Tender chicken, crispy bacon, sweet peas, and gluten free penne pasta are tossed in a rich and creamy three cheese sauce made with ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan and baked until perfectly set with a golden crispy breadcrumb topping. A hearty and crowd pleasing gluten free baked pasta recipe the whole family will love!

Ingredients

Scale

12 ounce package Gluten Free Penne Pasta, cooked
1 pound Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Breast, cubed and cooked
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Minced Garlic
1 cup Frozen Peas
8 slices Bacon, cooked and chopped
1 cup Heavy Cream
3 large Eggs
8 ounces Ricotta Cheese
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, finely grated (divided)
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 cup Gluten Free Bread Crumbs

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Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Cook your gluten free pasta per the instructions on the package.

While the pasta is cooking, cut your chicken breast into bite size chunks and cook the chicken in olive oil until lightly browned and cooked through. Add the garlic, peas and bacon. Heat through 2-3 minutes.

Whisk together the cream, eggs, ricotta cheese. Add the shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

When your gluten free pasta is done, strain it from the water and add the cooked noodles back to the pot.

Add the cheese mixture and chicken mixture to the pot with the noodles. Stir to combine.

Pour the noodle mixture into your 9x13 baking dish. Top with a the gluten free bread crumbs and 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. If you would like the top to be crunchy turn your oven to broil and carefully broil the top until it's lightly browned. Watch this process carefully as the top will brown quickly.

Serve immediately.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Meals, Dinner
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American