Rockin' romesco chicken pasta

Rockin' romesco chicken pasta

Give penne pasta a glow up with a seriously sensational sauce! A classic trio of onions, peppers and tomatoes are tossed with garlic and paprika, baked 'til golden and then finely chopped to make the iconic romesco sauce. Stirred into pasta with roasted chunks of chicken breast and courgettes, it's ready for a scattering of rocket, and ravenous diners!

SWK: Source of fibre SWK: High protein Plants 6 newBadge

Serving size

Cook time: 45 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Food group: Poultry
Allergens: Wheat

Cooking Instructions

The protein cooking time listed in this recipe has been updated.

As of December 2025, we’ve revised cooking times for all our proteins to reflect improved food safety guidance.

Check out the latest recommended times in our Cooking Guidelines.

Before you start

  • 1x baking tray lined with baking paper
  • 1x saucepan

Get the veg & chicken going

  • Heat your oven to 240ºC/fan 220ºC/gas 9.
  • Dice the courgettes into 2cm chunks. Deseed the peppers and dice into 2cm squares. Peel the onions and dice into large pieces.
  • Put the peppers, onions and tomatoes on a baking tray lined with baking paper, and add the courgette chunks on one side.
  • Put the chicken between the courgette and the other veg.
  • Spritz with cooking spray and roast for 15 mins.

Spice things up!

  • Remove the tray from the oven and toss the peppers, onions and tomatoes with the garlic, paprika and tomato purée.
  • Roast for 10-12 mins, until the chicken is cooked through.

Boil the pasta

  • Meanwhile, cook the pasta in boiling water for 8-9 mins, then drain and return to the pan, reserving some of the cooking water.

Sauce ingredients, assemble!

  • Transfer the veg, aside from the courgettes, to a large chopping board.
  • Mash the veg on the board, then chop as finely as possible until you have a thick romesco sauce. Lightly season.

Bring it all together

  • Add the romesco sauce, chicken and courgettes to the pasta and stir well, adding a little of the reserved cooking water to make a glossy sauce that clings to the pasta.
  • Stir most of the rocket through the pasta, serve and top with the remaining rocket.

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