Please critique my pasta bake and tell me how to make it more tasty?!

[dottytablecloth]

But still ensure that my 17 month old will eat it as I'm not keen on separate dinners for adults and children!

Chopped onion
Chicken breast
Pepper
Pasta
Tin chopped tomatoes
Tiny pinch sugar (have never added to a recipe before but it said to)
Breadcrumbs
Cheddar cheese on top

Ds seemed to love it but I thought it was slightly bland.

I didn't add garlic or chilli as I always think these will put ds off. It needed something like this though, didn't it?

Any ideas?

[ProfYaffle]

If you're adding stock cubes, that Marigold stock powder is useful because you can control how much you put it. iirc it's less salty than the others I think.

Balsamic vinegar in a tomato sauce is good too and yy to passatta rather than tinned toms.

[AscoyneDAscoyne]

I just roast 2 chicken breasts in one of those roasting bags with the flavouring (think Maggi or Colmans) such as garlic and herb or Cajun chicken. Fry mushrooms or peppers in olive oil, add 2 cans chopped tomatoes then mix with cooked pasta and flavoured roasted chicken and bung in the oven topped with cheese.
Behold, a tasty midweek pasta bake that my 4 yo and 15 mth old will actually eat.

[21mealspluscake]

When you're making the tomato sauce I'd add a bay leaf and, if you've got some, a sprig of fresh rosemary and just fish them out before serving. You really do need garlic, a tiny pinch of chilli flakes won't add heat but will enhance the flavour and maybe change the chicken to a mix of smoked bacon and mushrooms, chicken can be really bland.

[BikeRunSki]

Y Y to stock cube and garlic
Pesto
Olives

[FunkyBoldRibena]

funky wouldn't adding stock make it very runny?

Stock cube. Not stock. Although the water would be absorbed or cook off.

[Rainydayblues]

And if I did bake it I would use mozzarella and not cheddar - which IMO is too overpowering. Grate some Parmesan over the top after baking.

[Rainydayblues]

Fry the onion gently for at least 10 mins closer to 15, till it's soft and translucent - not browned. Pancetta or bacon or chorizo - non spicy version would help. Use good quality tinned tomatoes. Chuck in an old Parmesan rind. Cook the tomato sauce for at least 45 mins, do not add dried herbs, use fresh basil or parsley or fresh pesto at the end if you like. Use chicken thighs rather than breast. Adjust seasoning, acidity and flavour at the end, use a very small amount of either ketchup, balsamic vinegar, sugar, mushroom ketchup, Lea & Perrins, S&P to taste. And I'd probably not bother baking it!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

You could use lardons instead of chorizo too.

[Gerty1002]

Paprika, lot of it, which could be in the form of chorizo if you like. My 10mo DS loves it, he doesn't have a problem with strong flavours at all. One of his favs is garam masala! You will never know if your DC will like it until you try :).

[dottytablecloth]

I think my next pasta bake is going to be amazing!

[juneybean]

Squirt of ketchup

[MrsMonkeyBear]

Big squeeze of tom purée to amp up the tom flavour.
Worcestershire sauce,
Garlic for sure, the lazy garlic in a jar is brilliant.
Chorizo is another yy.
Try another type of cheese mixed with the cheddar, Mozzarella for gooeyness, crumbled goats cheese for peppery-ness.
And finally some freshly ground black pepper

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Oh you said onion

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I can't imagine tomatoes being nice without sweated down garlic and onions. And I'd use pasta not tinned tomatoes

[ravenAK]

I always find tinned toms a bit bland & watery.

I must admit I often use a jar of spag bol sauce for things like this, but failing that passata or cook two tins of toms down a bit with onion/garlic/herbs to make a sauce?

[LittleBallOfFur]

Passata is much nicer than chopped tomatoes as well I find.

[sonlypuppyfat]

Chorizo makes everything taste better.

[schmee]

Paprika and some philedelphia would be nice

[dottytablecloth]

funky wouldn't adding stock make it very runny?

[NCISaddict]

Sometimes dried mixed herbs are a bit like that. Try fresh herbs and,yes, Philadelphia should work especially if it's the full fat version.

[FunkyBoldRibena]

Herbs or bung half a stock cube in when you put the chopped toms in.

[dottytablecloth]

Thanks for the tips!

Wonder if a few spoonfuls of Philadelphia would add some creaminess?

Will definitely add garlic and maybe basil next time. Herbs are a good idea but when I use mixed herbs sometimes they are all I can taste!

[BirdhouseInYourSoul]

DS loved anything garlic tasting.

I remember reading once that it's one of the things they can taste through breastmilk and I like garlic so it was probably that. But it is a taste they can identify with early on I think so both bottle and breast fed babies are supposed to like it.

I would add herbs too. It's good to add different flavours in for kids.

[Lunaballoon]

Those ingredients cry out for garlic and herbs - fresh parley, oregano and/or thyme - and maybe some Parmesan cheese.