There’s one thing undeniably comforting a few heat, creamy pasta bake recent out of the oven, particularly when it’s filled with daring, smoky flavors and simply the correct amount of warmth. This baked road corn pasta is impressed by the irresistible flavors of Mexican road corn, however reworked right into a hearty, satisfying meal that feeds a crowd with minimal effort.
And the very best half? It’s principally hands-off. As soon as every little thing is within the baking dish, the oven does the heavy lifting.
Consider your favourite road corn however in pasta kind: Charred, barely candy, just a little tangy, and topped with recent herbs and cheese. Now think about these flavors baked right into a creamy pasta dish with juicy hen and roasted greens. The result’s a comforting pasta casserole with a recent, vibrant twist.
Don’t skip the toppings! The crowning glory to this baked road corn pasta is a fast toss of queso fresco, jalapeño, cilantro, and a splash of vinegar. It provides brightness and texture that balances the richness of this pasta actually fantastically.
Substances You Want
- Hen breast: Protein-packed hen breast makes this pasta bake hearty and satisfying with out feeling too heavy. It absorbs all the encircling flavors because it cooks, making each chew juicy and flavorful.
- Carbe Diem Rotini Pasta: This rotini is ideal for holding onto the creamy, saucy parts of the bake due to its spiral form. It additionally gives a higher-fiber, decrease net-carb choice in comparison with conventional pasta, making the dish a bit extra balanced with out sacrificing texture. Yum!
- Hearth-roasted corn: This provides a delicate smokiness and pure sweetness that offers this pasta its “road corn” character. It additionally brings a pop of coloration!
- Pink bell pepper: Vivid and barely candy, pink bell pepper provides freshness and just a little crunch.
- Salsa verde: That is the place the magic occurs—salsa verde brings tangy, zesty taste that retains the dish tremendous flavorful with out including any steps. Merely dump a jar of salsa verde proper into the baking dish!
- Hen broth: Hen broth helps cook dinner the pasta immediately within the dish whereas including an additional layer of savory taste. It ensures every little thing stays moist and infused with seasoning because it bakes.
- Cream cheese: The important thing to that ultra-creamy texture of this pasta, cream cheese melts right into a easy, wealthy sauce that coats each ingredient. You’ll place a complete brick of cream cheese in the midst of the baking dish, and let it do its factor.
- Jalapeño topping: The topping is what actually brings this dish to life on the finish. A mixture of crumbly queso fresco, smoky fire-roasted corn, recent cilantro, and thinly sliced jalapeño provides brightness, and simply the correct amount of warmth.
The Excessive Fiber Pasta I Love
In terms of a baked pasta dish like this one, the kind of pasta you select actually issues, particularly in the event you’re searching for a excessive fiber pasta that also tastes like the true factor. Carbe Diem Rotini Pasta is one I maintain coming again to.
First, let’s speak about texture. Rotini’s spiral form is designed to carry onto any sauce, and that’s precisely what you need in a creamy, flavor-packed bake like this. Each twist traps the salsa verde, melted cream cheese, and smoky corn, so that you get a wonderfully coated chew each time. It’s severely so yummy.
However what actually units this pasta aside is what’s taking place past the style. Carbe Diem is actual wheat pasta (so it truly tastes like pasta), simply with a extra balanced diet profile. In comparison with the main conventional pasta model, it has 55% fewer web carbs, 110 energy per serving, and a giant increase of fiber (about 24g per serving), making it a simple pasta recipe choice for on a regular basis meals.
So that you’re nonetheless getting that consolation meals second, however with extra endurance and just a little extra intention behind it. It’s the form of swap that doesn’t really feel like a compromise…which, for my part, is the entire level!
Make Baked Road Corn Pasta
Begin by preheating your oven and seasoning the hen immediately in your baking dish—no additional pans required. Add the Carbe Diem pasta, greens, salsa verde, and broth, then nestle a complete block of cream cheese proper within the heart.
After baking in a lined dish, every little thing begins to melt and are available collectively. Then, you’ll take away the duvet and permit the Carbe Diem pasta bake to complete cooking with alllll the flavors coming collectively. Lastly, stirring the melted cream cheese transforms the dish into probably the most creamy and scrumptious road corn pasta bake.
Whereas the Carbe Diem pasta cooks, you’ll combine collectively the jalapeño topping—a easy step that makes a giant distinction. Sprinkle it proper excessive of the Carbe Diem pasta proper earlier than serving.
High Suggestions for Success
- Don’t skip the remainder time: Letting the pasta sit for about 10 minutes earlier than serving helps the sauce thicken and cling to each chew.
- Hearth-roasted corn provides basic road corn taste: If you could find it, use it—it brings a delicate smokiness that mimics conventional road corn. That stated, common frozen corn works simply high-quality in the event you can’t discover fire-roasted corn.
- Customise the warmth: Love spice? Hold the jalapeño seeds. Favor it gentle? Take away them or use much less.
- Any inexperienced salsa works: Use your favourite salsa verde—jarred or selfmade.
Extra Pasta Recipes
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Preheat the oven to 400℉.
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Lower the hen into 1-inch items, season with salt and pepper, and place in a 9×13 baking dish.
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Take away ¼ cup of corn and put aside earlier than including the pasta, corn, bell pepper, onion, salsa, and hen broth to the baking dish and stir to mix. Make a nicely within the heart of the components and place the cream cheese brick within the center.
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Cowl the dish and bake for half-hour.
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After half-hour, take away from the oven. Take away the duvet and stir the components across the cream cheese. Don’t stir the cream cheese. Switch the dish, uncovered, again to the oven, and bake for one more half-hour.
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Whereas the pasta bake is within the oven, add the topping components to a small bowl and toss.
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Take away the bake from the oven and stir the cheese into the remainder of the components till there aren’t any lumps and it turns into creamy. Let it relaxation for at the very least 10 minutes or till any extra liquid is absorbed. High the pasta bake with the cilantro combination and serve.
- I used a fire-roasted corn on this recipe. Any frozen corn would work nice if fire-roasted isn’t out there.
- Any inexperienced salsa will work for this recipe.
Energy: 441 kcal, Carbohydrates: 44 g, Protein: 29 g, Fats: 17 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 6 g
Diet data is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
Disclaimer: This submit is sponsored by Carbe Diem. We had been compensated and all opinions are our personal. Thanks for supporting Match Foodie Finds!
