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Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole

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This Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole has only 5 ingredients and mixes up in 5 minutes. It is a great weeknight dinner. I used chicken I had cooked, cubed, and frozen and no one could even tell.

Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole on top of zoodles on a white plate. More zoodles on the side and a red casserole dish in the background.

Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole – Low Carb, Grain Free, THM S, Gluten Free, Keto

I used a classic basil pesto in this recipe but you can use any variety of pesto. I want to try it with sun-dried tomato pesto next time I make it.

A large stainless bowl with the creamy sauce for the Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole.

You’ll see in the ingredients that I have a range of measurements for the heavy cream. If you use the lesser amount the sauce will be thick. For a thinner sauce to put over veggies use the whole amount.

The Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole waiting to be topped with cheese and baked.

Aren’t easy dinners the best? Since I used frozen cooked chicken for this (I thawed it first) the prep time was really only 5 minutes. I served this over zucchini noodles for dinner and had it over spinach the next day for lunch.

Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole baked. Golden cheese on top.

I hope you enjoy my Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole!

Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole on a white plate on top of zucchini noodles.

I had leftovers for lunch the next day over spinach – delicious! I can’t decide if I liked this better over zoodles or spinach. I want to try over mashed cauliflower next time.

Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole on top of spinach on a white plate.

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5 from 2 votes
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Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 

This Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole has only 5 ingredients and mixes up in 5 minutes. It is a great weeknight dinner.

Course: casserole, dinner, Main Course, main dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 451 kcal
Author: Taryn
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup pesto
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 1/4-1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 8 oz mozzarella cubed
  • 2 lb cooked cubed chicken breasts (I weighed this after cooking)
  • 8 oz mozzarella shredded
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400. Spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray.
  2. Combine the first three ingredients and mix until smooth in a large bowl. Add the chicken and cubed mozzarella. Transfer to the casserole dish. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella on top.
  3. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Serve with zoodles, spinach, or mashed cauliflower.
Recipe Notes

*** use 1/4 cup cream for a thick sauce and 1/2 cup for a thinner sauce

 

Nutrition Facts
Easy Mozzarella & Pesto Chicken Casserole
Amount Per Serving
Calories 451 Calories from Fat 270
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 30g 46%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Cholesterol 159mg 53%
Sodium 653mg 27%
Potassium 507mg 14%
Total Carbohydrates 3g 1%
Sugars 1g
Protein 38g 76%
Vitamin A 21.3%
Vitamin C 1.6%
Calcium 33.7%
Iron 4.6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

Comments

  1. Jess says

    Do you have a suggestion for what to use instead of cream cheese? I always want to make these types of casseroles but my husband doesn’t like cream cheese and can taste it no matter what I do. Thanks in advance!
    Reply

    • Taryn says

      Using raw chicken will make the sauce watery. I would suggest cooking the chicken for 20 minutes (cut into bite-sized pieces) then draining the liquid and adding the other ingredients. Cook again until the cheese melts. Temp the chicken to be sure it is 160.
      Reply

  5. Sharon says

    Seriously amazing! I halved the recipe & left out the mozzarella cause I had none & used whipped chive cream cheese. Sauteed my zuuchini noodles with a bit of coconut oil & then halfway through added the sauce instead of cooking in oven. Added cubed chicken last just to heat. Rich, creamy & soooo delish! Using leftover sauce tomorrow over spinach.

    Reply

  7. Kendray says

    Are you sure the nutrition facts are right? I input them into MFP and got drastically different numbers. I understand there will be variations based on using different brands, but mine is waaaaaay different.
    Reply

    • Taryn says

      I just double checked and you are correct. I'll update the post later. It turned out that my original calculations had 8 oz of cream cheese as 30 calories. There was an error in MFP. I do always recommend my readers checking the nutrition facts if their diet depends on them. I do not personally use them but try to provide them as a courtesy. Thanks for letting me know :-)
      Reply

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