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Chicken Zucchini Pasta Casserole is loaded with tender chunks of chicken, sautéed mushrooms, onions, zucchini, garlic and mini penne pasta in a creamy Parmesan Sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese. A quick, easy, and delicious casserole. 

The only thing my garden has produced this year has been zucchini.

It’s been a sad and pathetic year for the ol’ garden! My green thumb has turned brown! (Truthfully…it’s never been green! It resides somewhere in the category of 70s putrid avocado green!) 

I wanted to try making a casserole that incorporated my bounteous crop! (I say that with so much sarcasm it could skin a skunk! Honestly I think we “harvested” 5 squash before the deer ate the rest! Thank you, Bambi! You’re precious…truly!)

I took some cooked chicken, mini penne pasta, a little of this, and a lot of that, started mixing and voilà we have a brand new favorite budget friendly casserole! Chicken Zucchini Pasta Casserole!

All the flavors in this dish combine beautifully together. What is even more impressive is you can omit some of the ingredients, like the mushrooms and squash, if you’re not a fan! Although I do strongly suggest you give it a try…I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Let’s get cooking….

How To Make Chicken Zucchini Pasta Casserole

In a large pot add 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil and add 2 1/2 cups of mini penne pasta. Cook pasta till al dente and drain.

Tip: I love this cute mini penne pasta. You can use macaroni in exchange for the penne if you’d like.

While the pasta is cooking, in a medium skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon butter. When butter has melted add 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms, 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup diced fresh zucchini, and 4 tablespoon chopped onion.

Sauté until tender and onions are translucent.

Add 1 teaspoon minced garlic…we need a little flavor burst in this casserole.

Remove squash and mushroom mixture from skillet and set aside.

Place drained warm pasta in a large bowl. Add 1 can cream of chicken soup and 4 ounces of cream cheese. 

Add 1/4 cup crumbled bacon and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend. Mix until well combined. The pasta should be warm enough to melt the cream cheese. 

Add 1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese, 1/2 cup sour cream, and 1/2 cup of milk to pasta mixture. Mix until all ingredients are incorporated. 

Tip:  You may need to add additional milk to mixture to reach desired consistency. 

Add 2 cups of cubed cooked chicken and the squash mushroom mixture. Gently stir to combine. Salt and Pepper to taste.

I love the addition of the squash to this dish! Such a great way to sneak veggies into a dish!

Preheat oven to 350°.

Pour pasta mixture into a 2 quart casserole dish sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.  Doesn’t that look yummy?!!! So creamy with wonderful flavor combinations.

Top casserole with 1 cup grated Mozzarella Cheese. Bake uncovered in preheated 350° oven for 40 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly golden brown.

That beautiful golden brown cheese top is the goal with this casserole. Nothing say’s “Comfort food” like a golden bubbly cheesy topping on a creamy casserole.

Garnish with a nice sprinkle of dried or fresh parsley. That pop of green adds a nice little finishing touch.

Time to “Dig in”! From the first scoop the ooey-gooey goodness of this casserole shines! It boasts hints of Chicken Alfredo with vegetables. The flavors from the Italian seasonings is a nice, added bonus.

It was love at first bite here at this Nest! Truthfully I made this casserole on a day I was feeling really under the weather, and it tasted so good!

There’s just something so comforting about a creamy pasta dish! Reminds me of a big ol’ hug from Grandma when you’re feeling blue!

TIP: This meal comes together quickly if the chicken is prepared ahead of time. You can use store bought rotisserie chicken. I like to pre-cook several chicken breasts in my Instant Pot and then freeze it for casseroles like this. Makes meal prep a breeze.

If you enjoyed this casserole you might also like these other Easy Casseroles

• Mexican Tater Tot Casserole
• Cashew Chicken Casserole
• Chicken Ranch Tater Tot Casserole
• Beef Smoked Sausage and Vegetable Casserole
• Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole
• Chicken Rice Casserole
• Tater Tot Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

I hope this yummy casserole will find its way to the dinner table at your Nest!

If you love creamy comforting casseroles then this one is for you!

Remember you can follow me every day on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram. Just look for Norine’s Nest, and I’ll be there sharing my favorite family friendly recipes!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by! Have a Great Day and….

Happy Nesting!

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