Chicken Alfredo Bake
This Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Bake is made with ANY kind of pasta and a 15-minute Alfredo sauce with chicken and broccoli! Use leftover chicken or a rotisserie for an easy shortcut and top it with breadcrumbs or crushed Ritz crackers.
Be sure to serve this with a side of Garlic Bread with Cheese.
Chicken Alfredo Bake
This Chicken Alfredo Bake is loaded with so many classic flavors that blend together in the best possible way.
You can use whatever pasta you have in your pantry. Penne, bow tie, and rigatoni are all great choices. I personally love using medium pasta shells because they fill up with that delicious sauce.
As for the Alfredo sauce, there is a lot of it in this recipe to make absolutely sure that this does not dry out when you bake it. It’s completely moist and delicious, and a great make-ahead meal.
Finally, this is a great way to make use of leftover chicken, or a use up a rotisserie. Let’s get it started.
How to Make it
Boil the Pasta
- Cook the pasta until it just hits the al dente point. Add the broccoli during the last 4 minutes.
Prepare the Sauce
- Melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for one minute.
- Whisk in the flour. Continue to whisk for 1 minute.
- Gradually add the half and half. Bring to a light bubble. Decrease heat to low.
- Slowly sprinkle in Parmesan and Romano cheeses, whisk until well combined. Remove from heat.
Add Pasta, Chicken, and Broccoli
- Add cooked pasta shells, chicken, and broccoli. Stir to combine.
Assemble the Casserole.
- Add the pasta to a lightly greased 9 x 13 casserole dish.
Top with Cheese and Bake
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top and bake uncovered at 350° for 10 minutes.
- Optional: Top with crushed Ritz crackers and bake for 5 more minutes.
Pro Tips
- This is a great recipe to use with leftover chicken breasts or Rotisserie Chicken.
- ANY kind of pasta works for this, fusilli and penne are great alternatives. You could even use Tortellini!
- 1/2 heavy cream + 1/2 milk works as well if you don’t have half and half. I don’t recommend using all milk, the lower fat content can cause the sauce to curdle and the sauce will be much thinner.
- Cooked shrimp or steak can also be used.
- Vegetables can easily be added, such as frozen peas and carrots.
- You can use all Parmesan cheese if you don’t have Romano.
Make Ahead Method
2-3 days ahead:
- Assemble as instructed. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 days.
- Let it sit out for 30 minutes prior to baking OR, cover and add 15 minutes to baking time if baking from a cold state.
2-3 months ahead:
-
- Freeze in a casserole dish or disposable aluminum baking pan, cover top with 2 layers of foil.
- Let it defrost overnight in the fridge. Cover and add 15 minutes to baking time, remove cover and bake as instructed.
- If baking from a frozen state: Bake covered, for 1 hour. Uncover and bake as outlined.
Storing Leftovers
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
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Chicken Alfredo Bake
Ingredients
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 large chicken breast, or 2 cups cooked/diced chicken
- salt/pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ¾ lb. medium pasta shells, can sub any kind of pasta
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Alfredo Sauce
- 7 Tablespoons salted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3.5 cups half and half
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Romano cheese, shredded
Topping (optional)
- 1/2 cup Ritz crackers, crushed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
Cook the Chicken
- Butterfly the chicken breast and cut the seam to create two thinner slices. Pat dry and season each side salt/pepper.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until golden brown on each side, decrease heat if oil gets too hot. Each side will need 4-5 minutes.
- Remove chicken from heat and let it rest for 5-10 minutes prior to dicing into bite-size pieces.
Boil the Pasta
- Add 1/2 tbsp. of salt to 4-6 quarts of boiling water. Cook the pasta no more than the al dente point, (8 minutes for medium pasta shells), refer to box for specific time.
- Add the broccoli during the last 4 minutes of boiling. Drain.
Prepare the Sauce
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and heat for 1 minute.
- Whisk in the flour, heat for 1 minute.
- Gradually add the half and half. Allow it to come to a gentle bubble.
- Decrease heat to low and stir for 1-2 minutes.
- Gradually sprinkle in the Parmesan and Romano cheese, whisking continuously until well combined. Turn off heat.
Assemble the Casserole
- Add the pasta to the sauce and stir to combine. Stir in the chicken and steamed broccoli.
- Add to a lightly greased 9 x 13 casserole dish. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Bake
- Bake uncovered for 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- If desired, top with crushed Ritz crackers (or breadcrumbs), and bake for 5 more minutes.
- PRO TIP: Let the casserole sit for 5-10 minutes prior to serving. This allows the pasta to absorb the sauce and gives the piping hot casserole time to cool slightly prior to serving.
Notes
You can use all Parmesan cheese if you don't have Romano.
This sauce will satisfy a full pound of pasta if you prefer. Since we're baking it, I like to have extra sauce so that it's not at all dry. This is especially important if you plan on having leftovers as the pasta will continue to absorb the sauce in the fridge.
Easy and delicious recipe!
Made this tonight for dinner, and my wife and kids LOVED it! Always a good sign when I see my wife packing leftovers for her lunch tomorrow!🤣
I used grilled chicken marinated in ranch seasoning mix, Italian seasoning, salt, and olive oil. Also added a little extra parmesan and mozzarella.
Looking forward to leftover night!!! Thank you for the recipe Stephanie!
Nice work Paul! That’s gonna be a great lunch for your wife tomorrow🙌! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!
I made this tonight, I followed the recipe exactly and used cheese tortellini. It was a huge hit with the family. Would recommend and will make again. Thanks!
You’re very welcome Deb! I’m so happy it was such a hit with family! Thanks so much for the great comments!💕
Hosted some friends and made this for them, they loved it and requested the recipe. My husband ate the other half immediately upon returning home from work. Added extra mozzarella and it turned out perfectly. I do like to have a good balance of extra crunch with casseroles, if you’re the same add extra crackers! Otherwise this recipe is perfect!
I’m so happy it was such a success Madi! I’m with you, I love a little extra crunch. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!🩷
I used ziti and rotisserie chicken in this. Otherwise, it was pretty much the same as in the recipe except I held out a little for myself before I stirred in the broccoli (I don’t care for it). It was simple to make and I will definitely prepare it again. I like the fact that your recipes are mostly from scratch using everyday ingredients that are usually on hand.
Hi Lynn!! I’m soooo happy that you enjoyed this recipe and that you love the from scratch approach with simple ingredients! That means a lot to me! 🙂 Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review!! -Stephanie
I made this tonight using rotisserie chicken and penne (because that’s what I had on hand) but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. It was a bit hit! I will definitely be making this again. The only slight change I might make next time is using a higher ratio of parm to romano, but that’s just a personal preference. Thanks for the great recipe!
I’m so happy you enjoyed this with rotisserie chicken and penne Becky! I love how flexible this one is. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review😃
I just wanted to say our whole family loved it as well, adults, teenagers, and toddler! Thanks for this great recipe, I wouldn’t change a thing!
Nothing better than when the whole family approves! Sounds like you nailed it Tiffany, nice work! Thanks so much for the great comment and review!💗
My whole family loves this dish. We have changed it up and added summer sausage and other meats. The alfredo sauce can’t be beat!
Thanks so much Melissa! I love when a dish is a hit with the whole family, definitely not easy to pull off! Nice work!😃