Frugal Food

Chicken Cheesy Pasta Bake

• 500g pasta (any type)

• 340g frozen pre-cooked chicken chunks

• 150g cheese

• 25g butter

A couple of hours before cooking, defrost the chicken chunks.

1. Half fill a medium sized pot with water and bring to the boil on a medium heat.

2. Add the pasta and cook for 20-25 minutes.

3. Pan fry the chicken in butter for around 5 minutes, ensuring it’s cooked all the way through with a nice brown colour.

4. Take pasta and chicken off the heat. Strain the pasta into the pot. Add the chicken into the pot with the pasta.

5. Grate 120g of cheese into the pot and stir thoroughly.

6. Place the mix into a glass or ceramic dish. Grate the rest of the cheese on top and put in the oven for 25 minutes at 200°C/gas mark 6.

This recipe makes a tasty lunch or dinner. You can keep leftovers in the fridge for a few days, eat cold or heat through for a couple of minutes in the microwave.

Sausage Pesto Mayonnaise Pasta 

• 5 sausages

• 500g pasta (any type)

• 3–4 tbsp pesto mayonnaise 

1. Half fill a medium sized pot with water and bring to the boil on a medium heat. 

2. Add the pasta and cook according to the instructions.

3. Place your sausages in a deep pan (around 2 inches deep) and give them a drizzle of oil. 

4. Put them in the oven at 220°c/ gas mark 7 for 25-30 minuets.

5. Strain the cooked pasta and put in a large plastic or glass bowl.

6. When the sausages are cooked, let them cool for 5-10 minutes, then cut the sausages into 2-3cm slices.

7. Add the sausages to the bowl with the pasta and mix lightly so the ingredients are combined.

8. Finally, add 3-4 tbsp of pesto mayonnaise to the bowl. Mix well. This is now ready to enjoy!

This may seem like a strange dish but it tastes great, and can be enjoyed hot or cold! Store in the fridge and this dish will keep for 2/3 days. Enjoy!