Description
This Chicken Alfredo Casserole is a creamy, cheesy baked pasta dish featuring tender chicken breast, penne pasta, and a rich homemade Alfredo sauce. It’s a comforting and kid-friendly meal perfect for family dinners, combining classic Italian flavors with easy oven baking.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Chicken
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for greasing the baking dish)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and pasta: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Cook the penne pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Make the roux: In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to form a roux, ensuring it does not brown.
- Create the Alfredo sauce: Slowly whisk in the whole milk and heavy cream, stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Combine pasta and chicken with sauce: Add the cooked penne pasta and diced or shredded chicken to the sauce, mixing thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Assemble the casserole: Transfer the pasta and chicken mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and the top is golden brown.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley before serving warm.
Notes
- You can use rotisserie chicken as a convenient shortcut to save time.
- Adding steamed broccoli or spinach to the casserole boosts the vegetable content and adds color.
- For a heartier and more nutritious dish, substitute whole wheat pasta instead of regular penne.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
