Recipe: Chicken & Swiss Chard Pasta Bake
There’s something soul-satisfying about a warm casserole straight from the oven. Whether I’m making my grandma’s chicken spaghetti (made with Velveeta and Rotel) or my favorite King Ranch (from scratch), I know all served will leave with full hearts and happy stomachs.
The casseroles I grew up on were definitely retro — the recipes all came from my elementary school’s cookbook Candlelight and Wisteria (I know, how Southern, right?), and all of them began with “open the can.” But to be completely honest, I look forward to our annual Thanksgiving’s uber-processed green bean casserole more than any of the other dishes. Homemade versions will just never compare.
But the thing about casseroles is that their definition is constantly changing, just like the cooking of our times. As I’ve grown more adept in the kitchen, I find that casseroles are a great way to use up leftover ingredients in an interesting and delicious way. They definitely don’t have to include the snubbed convenience foods of America’s past.
Take this Swiss chard pasta bake. I happened to have leftover chicken from last week’s chicken fricassee and an extra tub of ricotta from another recipe test. All the other ingredients I keep on hand at all times. I picked up a few bunches of Swiss chard at a local market, and a healthful, tasty dinner was born.
Here’s another thing about casseroles (and this one in particular): Don’t be afraid to veer off the path. Don’t eat meat? Leave out the chicken. Only have shell pasta? Throw it in. No wine? Use lemon juice. Hate ricotta? Make a bechamel or just use a big handful of Gruyere to make it a cheesy noodle bake.
How about you? What do you consider a casserole? Is it part of your normal cooking routine?
Chicken and Swiss Chard Pasta Bake
Serves 4 to 6
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound
whole wheat penne
- 3
small bunches Swiss chard
- 3 tablespoons
olive oil, divided
- 1
medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 to 3 cloves
garlic, minced
- 1 to 2 cups
cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 cup
ricotta cheese
Splash of white wine
- 1/4 cup
grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup
panko breadcrumbs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta to al dente, or according to package directions. Strain and set aside (toss with a bit of olive oil if you'd like).
Rinse the Swiss chard well and pull the leaves off the thick stalks, saving the stems for another use (you can also dice the stems and cook them with the onions). Tear the leaves into large chunks and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy stock pot over medium heat. Cook onions until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds. Add the Swiss chard to the pot and season generously with salt and pepper. Stir a few times to wilt the greens. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until greens are tender, about 10 minutes.
Add the cooked noodles, chicken, ricotta, and a generous splash of white wine to the greens, and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a medium-sized baking dish. Combine Parmesan, panko, and remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sprinkle the Parmesan mixture over the top of the casserole and bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden.
Recipe Notes
This recipe was originally published in January 2012.