Creamy lemon chicken pasta bake

This creamy lemon chicken pasta bake has so much tastiness going on from the tarragon lemon cream sauce that wraps together the pasta, chicken and spinach. Plus, you can serve it either straight up, while the sauce is creamier, or baked with added mozzarella for a cheesier bake. Either way, all delicious.

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Pasta is a meal that everyone in our house enjoys. If we have a little more time, the kids love helping to make some fresh pasta, whether plain or with a twist like fresh spinach pasta or pumpkin pasta, or some ravioli like crab ravioli.

More often or not, we go simple by using store bought pasta, but at least with homemade arugula pesto. But sometimes I change things up like spaghetti alla carbonara with mushrooms or pasta puttanesca.

Comforting baked pasta dishes are always great for colder weather, too, like creamy chard pesto baked orzo or easy beef cannelloni. As are non-baked creamy pasta dishes too, of course, like this salmon spinach pasta.

Recently, since I had some leftover tarragon from making baked tarragon chicken, I wondered if I could use some for a sauce beyond just chicken.

After a little digging and thinking, I came up with this creamy lemon chicken pasta bake, and it was one delicious meal.

A tastier cream sauce

Now I know others may not agree but I have to say I'm not generally that big a fan of a basic cream sauce. At least not on it's own. It's naturally a great base for other dishes, but it needs some additions, in my mind.

The tarragon lemon cream sauce here has just the right amount of additions without being overly complicated, and they all work so well together. It uses a combination of garlic, wine, tarragon, cream and a little softened onion as the base.

A quick pasta sauce or pasta bake?

Since the sauce here has such great flavor, this dish definitely works to serve right after adding everything in to the sauce. And I have to say I have every intention of using this sauce in other dishes as well.

Before I made this, however, I had a pasta bake in mind, so I added some mozzarella, topped with parmesan and baked. The sauce dries a little, so it's less "saucy" but the cheese gives a lovely additional flavor and stringy goodness.

Really, just go with your mood, as both ways are delicious!

How to make this creamy lemon chicken pasta bake

This dish might take a little longer than some pasta dishes, but it comes together easily and is worth the extra effort.

• Set the pasta to cook - drain once al dente.
• Cook the diced chicken in butter then set aside.
• Add a little more butter and soften the onion and garlic.
• Deglaze with the wine, add the lemon juice and zest, tarragon and cream. Warm but don't boil the sauce.
• Wilt the spinach in the sauce and add back the chicken.
• Add the cooked pasta, mix through and remove from heat.
• You can serve at this point, or else add mozzarella,  transfer to baking dish, top with parmesan and bake.

The tarragon lemon cream sauce goes so well with the pasta, chicken and spinach. If baked, the slight crunch on top and stringy mozzarella just add to the comfort factor.

This creamy lemon chicken pasta bake is so comforting and packed with flavor. Don't ever think pasta night needs to be boring again.

Looking for more comforting pasta dishes? Try these!

• Pulled pork stuffed shells
• Cheesy orzo pasta bake
• Plus find many more comforting dishes in the winter recipes archives.

I used this rectangular baking dish for this recipe which was a great fit. 

See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store. 

Get more baked pasta ideas:

• Cavatini by Palatable Pastime
• Cheesy Artichoke Ravioli Casserole by Food Lust People Love
• Cheesy Vegetable Pasta Bake by Cook with Renu
• Macarona Bechamel (Egyptian Baked Pasta) by Tara's Multicultural Table
• Meatless Lasagna by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Mushroom And Artichoke Pasta Bake by Oventales
• Rakott teszta (Hungarian Layered Noodles) by Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
• Sausage and Spinach Lasagna by Cookaholic Wife
• Spiralized Sweet Potato Macaroni and Cheese by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Turkey Ham Mac and Cheese by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
• Turkey Tetrazzini by Reviews, Chews & How-Tos

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