Baked Cheesy Chicken and Mushroom Pasta

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Heat oven to 475 degrees with the rack in the center position. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until just shy of al dente.

2. Step 2

   Meanwhile, place chicken strips in a medium bowl. Drizzle in Worcestershire sauce and a few grinds of black pepper and mix until coated; set aside.

3. Step 3

   When pasta is cooked, use tongs to transfer the spaghetti directly into a 9-by-13-inch oven-safe dish. (It’s OK if some of the pasta water is transferred into the dish.)

4. Step 4

   Discard pasta water in the pot and return the pot to the stove. Heat over medium until pot is dry and add olive oil. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning and crushed red pepper (if using) and cook until garlic is golden brown, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken in an even layer and cook, stirring occasionally, until just opaque, about 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms, broth, ¾ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook until mushrooms have softened slightly, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.

5. Step 5

   Top the spaghetti with the chicken and mushroom mixture, along with all the broth. Cover evenly with shredded cheese. Bake until the cheese is golden-brown and the edges are slightly crispy, 10 to 15 minutes.