Disclaimer: This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Tyson Foods. The opinions expressed herein are honest and from the author. As a busy Mom, I know how much of a challenge it is to prepare healthy yet easy meals for the family every day. Since chicken is budget friendly and a real family favorite (the most commonly consumed meat in my household), I am sharing with you today these time-saving, crowd-pleasing Chicken Casserole Nests.
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
A healthy, easy baked chicken casserole nests made from pasta nests filled with a mixture of cheeses, peas, and chicken, layered on a pool of tomato sauce.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4
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)
- 1/2 cup part skim ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat provolone or mild cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup frozen peas
- 1/2 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!!!
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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.
Sarah L
https://twitter.com/slehan/status/526246057135452160
Annette
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.
Denise Browning
Leftovers are the best… They allow us to use them in several new dishes. Good luck and thanks for stopping by.
Annette
Here’s my tweet https://twitter.com/ThatTuxedoCat/status/526409524052107264
I love your idea of the nests; the recipe looks simple, delicious, and attractive.
Denise Browning
Thank you!!!!
Betty C
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.
Denise Browning
Thank you, Betty! Fried rice is an excellent, quick dish ideal to prevent heating up the kitchen. Good luck!!!
Betty C
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/526480933952950272
Kathy
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.
Sandra Martindale
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
Denise Browning
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.
beejay
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!
Denise Browning
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!