Chicken Soup Pasta Bake

Keep a bag of your favorite pasta and a can of cream of chicken soup on your kitchen shelf and you have the fixings for a fast and filling dinner. Alter this adaptable meal to suit your preferences, then add vegetables to boost the nutrient content and turn the chicken soup pasta bake into a one-dish meal.

Pasta

Pasta is a simple way to add substance and flavor to your chicken soup pasta bake. Increase the fiber content of your pasta bake with whole-grain pasta, which also provides more protein, vitamins and minerals than regular pasta made from refined white flour. Add interest to your pasta bake with the noodles of your choice, such as egg noodles, shells, macaroni or penne.

Soup

Most supermarket shelves have an array of cream of chicken soups that allow you to turn your chicken soup pasta bake from plain to fancy. Try cream of chicken soup seasoned with herbs or enhanced with additives such as corn or mushrooms. Most canned cream of chicken soups are available in low-sodium and low-fat versions, which lower the overall calorie and sodium content of your pasta bake.

Vegetables

Incorporate vegetables into your chicken soup pasta bake, and you're well on your way to fulfilling the three to five daily servings of vegetables recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture. Broccoli, asparagus, green or red bell peppers, onions, frozen peas or corn, mushrooms, carrots or celery all pair well with cream of chicken soup and pasta. Use one vegetable or a combination.

Cheese

Cheese adds fat and calories and isn't required to make a flavorful chicken soup pasta bake. If you like cheese, use grated cheddar, or reduce the fat and calorie count with skim-milk cheeses such as Monterey Jack or mozzarella. Reduced-fat cheddar cheese is also available.