This is the perfect ‘I can’t be stuffed making dinner’ recipe. We all have those moments during the week when we can’t be bothered, but we still have to make a good feed for the family. This chicken pasta bake ticks all those boxes. I love how it seems like a lot of effort has gone into it, when, in fact, you can put it together in minutes.

Ingredients: 

  • 500 g dried penne
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 kg skinless chicken thigh fillets
  • 1 tablespoon salt flakes
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 300 ml thickened cream
  • 2 tablespoons grated parmesan
  • 1 tablespoon Vegeta stock powder 
  • 125 g (1 cup) grated cheddar
  • leafy salad, to serve

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  2. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil and cook the penne according to the packet instructions, until al dente.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Season the chicken with the salt and garlic powder and sear for 5 minutes each side until golden brown (we don’t want to cook the chicken through, as it will finish cooking in the oven). Grab a baking dish and line up the chicken thighs in a single layer in the dish.
  4. Drain the penne and return it to the saucepan. Stir in the cream, parmesan and Vegeta stock powder until the pasta is completely coated in the creamy goodness, then pour it around the chicken in the baking dish. Sprinkle the cheddar all over the pasta, avoiding the chicken, then transfer to the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is beautifully melted and the chicken is cooked through.
  5. Invite everyone to the table and serve with a leafy salad.

Dinner Express: Fast, easy dinners (+ hacks!) for busy people, by George Georgievski,
is the ultimate solution for busy people and families – perfect for those crazy weeknight family dinners. Published by Plum and available in all good book stores. RRP $26.99.