This is a baked casserole made from pasta nests (no precooking required) filled with a mixture of two cheeses, peas, and chicken, layered on a pool of tomato sauce. Oh, this was a big-time hit! The last of our Chicken Casserole Nests had barely been served when my little ones were already asking me to make it again. I am a happy Mom... After all, it is not every day that such approval comes this quickly. To prepare these Chicken Casserole Nests and other chicken dishes (e.g. Chicken Stroganoff, Grilled Chicken Legs Wrapped in Bacon, Grandma's Chicken Soup, and Brazilian Saffron Rice with Chicken, among others), I trust and use Tyson® Fresh Chicken. Why? 
Tyson Fresh Chicken is all natural* -- with no added hormones or steroids** -- and arrives at local stores fresh because it is delivered within days from leaving the farm. Tyson Fresh Chicken also makes my life easier since its Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Tenderloins, and Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs are all hand-trimmed. I also enjoy their helpful tools and resources to make meal planning easy for me and my family. For this reason, I browse Tyson Fresh Chicken's family-friendly recipes HERE. It is totally handy! As you can see, how could I help but trust Tyson Foods -- a company that is wholesome and family-friendly? It's made up of real people like you and me – moms, dads, wives, husbands, neighbors, and friends. For over 75 years, Tyson has been bringing families together. Every day they strive to make food that they can feel good about serving to their own families. In this way, consumers can feel good about serving it to theirs. What do you think? Enjoy this ultimate family favorite -- Chicken Casserole Nests -- and many other chicken dishes of mine and from Tyson!!! 
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Is chicken the most commonly served meat at your household? What’s your family’s favorite chicken dish? Leave a comment with your answer below and you'll be entered for a chance to win a fun gift basket with kitchen gadgets and goodies.
Chicken Casserole Nests
Ingredients
- For the sauce:
- 5 cups of your favorite store-bought tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ¼ cup white wine optional
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves or 1-2 teaspoons of dried
- For the pasta nests:
- 8 fettuccine nests uncooked (pick the nests that have a wider opening in the center)
- ½ cup part skim ricotta cheese
- ½ cup shredded reduced-fat provolone or mild cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup frozen peas
- ½ pound Tyson Trimmed and Ready Chicken Breast Tenderloin 8 ounces
- 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Grated Parmesan cheese to sprinkle optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (about 180 degrees C).
- Prepare the sauce: In a medium stainless steel saucepan, mix together all ingredients until combined and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Pour into a large Pyrex or casserole dish, and set aside.
- For the pasta nests: Arrange uncooked pasta nests on top of the hot tomato sauce, keeping each a bit of a distance from the others. Using a spoon, ladle some of the hot tomato sauce over each nest to moisten. In a medium bowl, mix together the cheeses and peas, and set aside.
- Pat dry the chicken with paper towels and cut into small pieces. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. In a medium non-stick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat and brown the chicken (about 2-3 minutes). Mix into the cheese-pea mixture. Spoon cheese-chicken mixture into the raw pasta nests. Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil (If necessary, grease the interior of the sheet with non-stick cooking spray in order to avoid the cheeses sticking to the foil). Bake for about 40-45 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top of the pasta nests if desired. Serve chicken casserole nests hot (2 nests per person). A fresh salad or steamed vegetables, if desired, can accompany chicken casserole nests. Enjoy our chicken casserole nests!!!
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 8/27 - 10/26. Be sure to visit the Tyson Fresh Chicken brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts! * Minimally processed. No artificial ingredients. **Federal regulations prohibit the use of added hormones or steroids in chicken.
Where do you get your nests? I've only found vermicelli-size fideo. Can they be found online?
Love the idea of this recipe, going into my "to cook":...(Wat? This time it let me use quotes?!?!?!?) folder. Thanks!
Hi, Beejay! I bought this nest pasta in Walmart. Please, make sure to put enough sauce and also to cover tightly the baking pan so the steam can cook the pasta. Enjoy!
Fail. The pasta did not get done in this recipe after 45 minutes. Waste of time and ingredients. I should have trusted my instinct on this one. Looking back at comments, I can't see where anyone actually made this. Cook the pasta in boiling water first for probably 3 minutes and it might work
Sandra, have you followed the recipe strictly? The hot sauce poured over the pasta plus the steam of the tightly covered baking pan should be enough to cook the pasta al dente. The size of the baking dish versus the amount of pasta also influece to succeed or fail. I was clear asking to place pasta nests distant from each other to permit steam circulate. Mine succeed. I am sorry yours did not.
This looks delicious! The way your Chicken Cassrole Nests are presented looks kind of romantic, too; a perfect meal for a special occasion.
Italian is my all-time favorite style of cooking--and chicken is the entree I prepare the most. Though I haven't tried the fresh Tyson chicken (haven't seen it in my grocery store, but I will ask about it), I buy their frozen chicken breasts and tenders all the time.
My favorite chicken dish is Chicken Cacciatore.
Tweet - https://twitter.com/willitara/status/526480933952950272
This is such a cute way to present what could be an ordinary meal. Great idea.
We enjoy chicken fried rice or stir fry in the summer when we don't want to heat up the kitchen.
Thank you, Betty! Fried rice is an excellent, quick dish ideal to prevent heating up the kitchen. Good luck!!!
Here's my tweet https://twitter.com/ThatTuxedoCat/status/526409524052107264
I love your idea of the nests; the recipe looks simple, delicious, and attractive.
Thank you!!!!
Chicken is the most often-served meat in my house. My favorite way to eat it is baked. I use the leftovers to eat with salads and homemade dressing.
Leftovers are the best... They allow us to use them in several new dishes. Good luck and thanks for stopping by.
https://twitter.com/slehan/status/526246057135452160
My favorite chicken recipe is stir fry. I eat a lot of fish.
Thanks for the contest.
Thank you for participating... Good luck!
Link to tweet:
https://twitter.com/catholicfanatic/status/525842739200393217
Thank you and thanks for one of my next ideas for a chicken dinners!
The Chicken Casserole Nest is a great idea and would be a hit with my kids! I don't cook a lot of chicken and we usually have a lot of meat free nights since my husband works late. My family's favorite way for me to cook chicken is roasting a whole chicken in the oven after smothering it with butter, salt pepper, and stuffing it with rosemary and garlic. This doesn't happen very often at my house but when it does it is amazing!
Your dish sounds very appetizing, Sonya! Thanks for sharing this post on twitter. Good luck!
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/525771110529634304
i love bbq chicken in slow cooker
Hi, Erica! Thanks for stopping by and sharing with us your favorite chicken dish. It sounds delicious!!!
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/523984903998685186
We do eat a lot of chicken! I have a chicken and dumpling recipe for the slow cooker that is my family's favorite!
That's great, Kerry!
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/521451663022768129
Thanks for sharing it!
Yes we love chicken and have it at least 1x a week. Our favorite chicken dish is grilled barbecue chicken
It sounds quite delicious, Janice!!!
Chicken is the most common meat served in my home because it's so versatile. My favorite chicken dishes are chicken and dumplings, and chicken pot pie.
Thanks a lot for sharing your favorite chicken dishes. I love dumplings too!!!! Have a great day...
I posted a tweet too: https://twitter.com/AnnaZed/status/518465595461754882
Oh yes, chicken is most definitely the most served meat ingredient in our house. I roast whole chickens, astute chicken breasts and slow cook chicken tenders (my curry is legendary) all of the time.
Yes...I am crazy for curries. Thanks for stopping by.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/518223780007931904
Thanks for sharing it, Susan!
My favorite chicken dish is Blackened Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Susan: Your dish sounds quite yummy. I love anything Alfredo.
i was looking for new and easy recipes for the kiddos and knew I would find it here :). Brilliant idea friend! Will be making this tomorrow :).
Chicken and fish are what we serve most. Chicken stroganoff and chicken empanadas are requested the most
Annie:
Thank you! Enjoy this easy and tasty recipe.
My husband loves chicken stroganoff. Actually, we have one in the blog and it is one of the most popular of all times. We also loves empanadas and have a recipe for baked pizza empanadas and quick fried beef empanadas.
I imagine how happy your kids are when you make those dishes that you described.
Have a great weekend!
https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/517859992314314752
BEEF- WE EAT A LOT OF HAMBURGERS AND SPEGETTI & MEATBALLS AROUND HERE! =) =)
I used to eat a lot of beef down in Brazil but since I got in the US, I have consumed more chicken than beef. As I get older, red meat is not that easy to digest anymore. 🙂
Thanks a lot for sharing this dish on twitter.
Have a wonderful weekend!!!
Chicken parmigiana - they ask for it all the time. 🙂
I bet so, Deb! It is a great, comforting dish.
We love barbecue chicken sandwiches.
Thanks a lot for sharing your favorite dish with us, Erika!
I shared your pretty casserole and this fun Tyson promotion on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/NotherAnneOther/status/515167334827565057
Thank you!!!
Chicken is indeed the most-often served meat in our house. It's affordable and delicious, with so many different ways to prepare it that it doesn't get boring. My favorite way to use chicken is to start with a roast, then use the leftovers for meals like shredded-chicken burritos.
Your Chicken Casserole Nests are cute and clever, and I've pinned it for future reference. Thanks!
Hi, Anne! Thank you very much for both stopping by and sharing it.
Leftovers are great to prepare many dishes indeed. I also love to use mine. Have a great day!!!
We love chicken parm.
Me too, Ashley!!!!
https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/512710871705853956
Thank you for sharing it!
We eat chicken a lot at my house! I love a chicken fajita recipe I gathered from the food network years ago!
We also eat a lot of chicken fajitas.
https://twitter.com/mkjmc/status/509764433363886080
Thank you!
Right now it is just grilled chicken on the gas grill
A great, healthy chicken dish though!!!
Tweeted for a second entry https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/509510590771896320
Thank you for sharing it and letting me know as well, D.
Our favorite is definitely sweet and sour chicken stir fry!
My hubby enjoy it a lot too. Thanks for stopping by!
Posted to twitter page here -
Thank you so much for sharing it on Twitter and let me know. Good luck!!!
Yes we make a lot of chicken dishes in our house, our family’s favorite chicken dish though is BBQ chicken on the grill.
It sounds so delish, Nicole!!!! Thanks a lot for stopping by.
Nice and simple Denise, good recipe for a busy weekend
Thank you, Raymund!!!! It is for both a busy week and weekend -- or just to eat something healthy and delicious yet easy.
I love this meal idea! And the fact that the pasta is not pre-cooked. I just started an Easy Weeknight Meal board on Pinterest ... pinned! Thanks for sharing and glad to know that Tyson is hormone free. I assumed that not to be the case.
Hi, Lea Ann! Thanks for stopping by.
Federal regulations prohibit the use of added hormones or steroids in chicken.
Thanks for sharing this dish on your board!!! I do appreciate it and I hope you try this at home. 🙂
Chicken is definitely the main meat around here. Sounds pretty un-unique, but its just so cheap + versatile, we see it several times a week here. And pasttttaaa.
Clever mix here! Looks delicious!
Thanks... I agree with you, Francesca!
Such an amazing idea with chicken and pasta. Kids will love this. Chicken is the main meat in our family too. I mostly make curries with it but I will be making your dish soon. It sounds so delicious!
Sonali: Thanks a lot! I am crazy for curries. I ate one yesterday. If you try this recipe, you won't regret it. xx
I tweeted with twitter id @yarbr012 : https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/505520292048158720.
Thank you so much, Natalie!!! Good luck!
We serve chicken all the time and my favorite chicken dish is cracker crusted baked chicken with rice.
Natalie: I have to try to crust my chicken with crackers next time. I have never tried it!!!
Not only does that sound delicious, it's beautful to look at!
Maureen: Thank you!
oh! this look so insane! I love chicken! I have to try it out!
I hope you do, Marcela!!! You won't regret it...
To be honest, I have many favorite chicken dishes but I guess to narrow it down, I have to pick two. One is Chicken with Fresh Herbs and Creamy Lemon Sauce. The other is A Sweet and Sour Chicken with Pineapple and Peppers. They are different enough to satisfy the hungriest family. 🙂
Thanks a lot, Gloria!!!! The chicken with creamy lemon sauce made my mouth water...
My family's favorite chicken is crispy baked chicken - We all love crispy chicken skin. I love the idea of a nest -Makes for individualized portions.
Thanks, Immaculate! I would love to try your crispy baked chicken.
An easy to prepare dinner with lots of flavor makes the week so much smoother! The pasta nests are just too adorable and look so much better than a scoop of casserole!
Thank you, Deb! It is not an usual casserole yet hearty. I hope many have the chance to try it.
We love chicken as well!! It's so versatile and usually inexpensive. I will have to try this recipe soon!! Thanks for Sharing 🙂
Thank you, Andrea, for stopping by. This is a simple dish yet tasty... and most children love this! It is basically chicken and pasta.
Love this idea! I'm always looking for creative new ways to use chicken in a recipe. You nailed it!
Hi, Kathleen! Thank you... I think pasta and chicken are universal and available everywhere. This is a dish that I can prepare quickly (the pasta don't need to be precooked) because the oven do most of the work. It is something that a busy Mom would cook easily and children would enjoy it a lot.
Love the use of uncooked nests... brilliant, my friend... brilliant!
looks so good, this would be awesome for a dinner party even!
Thank you, Sally! My family ( both adults and children) approved this dish. Unanimity doesn't happen often. 🙂 Enjoy!!!
My favorite chicken recipe is shake and bake the garlic parm one. I know it's nothing fancy but it is good and quick.
Your dish sounds wonderful, Heather!
As a Mom, I struggle to serve meals to my family. There are those dishes that are part of our table more often... They are quite handy and my family really enjoy them. There are others which are great to make because they help us diversify the menu. This is one of those dishes!!
My family enjoyed this so much that I already intend to make it again - and maybe again! 🙂
Thanks a lot for stopping by. Have an awesome day!
What a delicious chicken casserole! I love the noodle nests, too...such a fun idea!
Thank you, Liz!!!!
My children thought these nests were cute too. This was one of my ways to make them eat tomato sauce with pasta -- which they usually don't. Chicken is something that they really enjoy a lot!
Oh Denise, these chicken nest using pasta are so cute...and they sure look delicious!
Thanks for the inspiration dear...hope you are having a fabulous week 😀
Enjoy it, my dear... Likewise. Take care!!!
Chicken is served most in my family too. Love this chicken casserole nests. Cute and refreshing flavors. Great job, mama!
Thank you, Lail! My family was quite happy to have this for lunch/dinner!!!
Who doesn't like pasta? Or chicken? Love the idea of the little nests -- cute dish! And this looks really flavorful too. Good stuff -- thanks.
Hey, John! I am so glad that you enjoyed this dish. Pasta and chicken is kind of universal. I think many people would enjoy it...
Loved the fact that you only used the moisture from the sauce to cook the pasta. Easy, simple, delicious dish! Perfect work Denise.
Loved your photos as well!
xo
Panos and Mirella
Thanks to both of you! This is a real simple dish that pleases both adult and children. The best part is pasta doesn't have to be precooked.