This Chicken Alfredo Bake is a tasty, simple spin on a classic recipe! It still has pasta in a velvety cheese sauce with tender, precooked chicken for the perfect meal when you don't feel like cooking. The extra gooey cheese on top makes this baked version even more enticing! (I also recommend this crock pot chicken alfredo, it's another easy version)
Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Main Dish
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 30 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 6
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Creamy, rich, and savory with tender chicken, cheesy Alfredo sauce, and comforting baked goodness.
- 🍚 Best Served With: Garlic bread, a crisp Caesar salad, or roasted vegetables.
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, assemble ahead, refrigerate up to 24 hours, and bake when ready.
Summarize and Save This Content On
I love it when I can take shortcuts, but still make amazing food. This chicken alfredo pasta bake is proof because it tastes just as good, if not better! It's one of my favorite ways to utilize leftover chicken, and the crispy bits of cheese on the edges are the perfect bite.
If you are looking for more chicken bake recipes, you should try this easy cheesy chicken bake and chicken broccoli bake.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's easy to make: This is a simple recipe that I enjoy preparing even when I don't feel like putting a lot of thought or effort into dinner.
- It's a crowd-pleaser: Everyone is so impressed by the gooey cheese and amazing flavor of this baked alfredo pasta, you'll have people lining up to get a copy of the recipe!
- It's picky eater approved: If you have picky eaters in your life, this is a dish they will actually want to eat.
Ingredients
The most important ingredients for this chicken alfredo bake recipe are listed below. The list consists of common elements found in other chicken alfredo dishes.
- Pasta: I picked rotini, but you can use other types of pasta, including fettuccine, penne, and farfalle.
- Chicken: Grab a rotisserie chicken for this chicken alfredo bake or use leftovers from another dinner, like this baked whole chicken.
- Milk/cream: The combination of milk and cream creates the perfect sauce consistency. The cream adds richness while the milk keeps it smooth and not too thick.
- Cheese: I went for Parmesan and mozzarella cheese in the sauce to make it nice and gooey, and then sprinkled the extra mozzarella on top. It melts perfectly as a topping!
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
You can use my air fryer rotisserie chicken to make this recipe. Take a look at my step-by-step guide on how to carve a rotisserie chicken so you can maximize the amount of meat harvested.
Variations
- Broccoli: Add some frozen or blanched broccoli to your casserole for extra nutrition and color!
- Buffalo: Make it spicy by drizzling or swirling McDonald's buffalo sauce into the alfredo.
- Bacon: For saltiness and a little crunch, some crumbled toaster oven bacon is the perfect addition.
How to Make Baked Chicken Alfredo
Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F, and then boil the pasta according to the package directions, subtracting 2 minutes. Have your chicken ready, and add it to the casserole dish with the cooked pasta so you can add the sauce.
Step 1: Sauté onions and garlic. Heat your skillet over medium heat and add the butter and onions, and cook them for about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, cook for another minute, and then add flour.
Step 2: Add dairy and cheese. Once the flour is fully incorporated, pour in the milk, cream, and spices. Stir until it's thickened and then whisk in the cheese until it's melted.
Step 3: Transfer to the casserole dish. Next, pour the sauce into the casserole dish, give it a good mix, and then top it with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
Step 4: Bake. Now you can pop the dish into the oven and bake it for about 20 minutes. Optionally, you can broil it on high for 2-3 minutes. Enjoy it with some air fryer garlic bread to sop up extra alfredo sauce!
Recipe Tips
- Watch the heat when making the sauce: You want to avoid letting the heat get too high while you're making the alfredo sauce. High heat can scorch the milk or make the dairy curdle.
- Avoid using thin noodles: Spaghetti and fettuccine work as long as you don't overcook them, but I recommend staying away from angel hair because it is the most likely to clump and become mushy.
- Use foil if needed: If you notice that the cheese on top is browning too quickly, tent the casserole with foil for part of the cooking time to keep it from burning ot getting too dark.
Try chicken manicotti alfredo if you enjoy this delicious alfredo chicken pasta bake.
Storage Directions
- Storing: Store leftover chicken alfredo in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. This pasta dish is best frozen unbaked for up to 2 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before you reheat it.
- Reheating: If you are reheating the whole casserole, bake it covered for 15 minutes and then uncovered for 5-10 minutes at 350 degrees. You may reheat a portion in the microwave, but expect some separation in the sauce.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the components of this chicken alfredo bake a few hours in advance and keep it covered in the fridge until you're ready to bake it. Add 5 minutes to the baking time!
Serving Suggestions
- Some of my favorite vegetable recipes to serve with this baked chicken alfredo are roasted broccoli and carrots, and grilled asparagus.
- If you're looking for a cold side dish, I highly recommend Mediterranean rice salad.
- Italian cheese bread is another delicious option for dipping in the extra sauce!
- Finish the meal with a simple yet decadent dessert like this Coca-Cola cake.
Recipe FAQs
If you overbake it or do not use enough sauce, it can make the chicken and pasta very dry. It should take more than 20-25 minutes to heat through!
Overcooked pasta becomes mushy very quickly. Only boil it until it is just al dente, as it will continue to cook in the oven.
You can in a pinch! One to two 16-24 oz jars should do the trick. Adjust the amount depending on how saucy you want it to be.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
Do you like chicken recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Chicken Alfredo Bake
Equipment
- Knife
- skillet
- Measuring spoons and cups
- 2.5-quart baking dish
Ingredients
- 12 ounces pasta cooked
- ⅓ pound chicken cooked and diced or shredded
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup chopped yellow onion
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- To make the Chicken and Pasta Alfredo bake, preheat the oven to 350°.
- While you prepare the recipe, you can also cook your pasta simultaneously. Make sure to cook the pasta two minutes less than the package directions. Don't forget to add salt to your pasta water.
- Once cooked, drain the pasta and transfer it to a 2 ½-quart baking dish.
- Top the pasta with your chicken. You can use leftover chicken, rotisserie chicken, or make chicken for the recipe.
- To a skillet, you will add butter and onion over medium heat. Stir for 4 minutes.
- Next, add the garlic to the skillet. Stir for 1 minute.
- Then add your flour. Stir for 2 minutes.
- Add the milk, heavy cream, and seasonings. Stir until creamy and thick.
- Lastly, add the Parmesan cheese and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Mix until fully combined and pour the sauce into the baking dish. Mix until evenly combined.
- Top the casserole with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Broil on high or at 500°F for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
- Make sure to keep an eye on this and check it every 20 seconds, as it can turn brown very quickly.
Notes
- When preparing the alfredo sauce, watch the heat. If it gets too high, it can make the milk and cream curdle.
- Be careful not to overbake your chicken alfredo because it can become very dry.
- Slightly undercook your pasta so it doesn't overcook and become mushy after baking in the oven.
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