About
Ever catch yourself daydreaming about cheese? Well, make your dreams a reality with this Easy Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Bake — the most perfect creamy creation that literally embodies everything your cheesy dreams are made of! When tender penne pasta, savory diced chicken, and an incredible garlic-infused, parmesan and mozzarella cheese-ladened Alfredo sauce comes together, you'll be living out your delightful dairy dreams. When a quick, dreamy, delicious dinner is on your mind, Easy Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Bake will lay to rest any reservations you may have about making a homemade Italian dish. It's everything you ever dreamed of!
Ingredients
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- 3 cups chicken, cooked and diced
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 -Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 3 -In a pot of salted, boiling water, cook the penne pasta to al dente, according to the package directions.
Step 4 -In a clean large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
Step 5 -Add the garlic to the melted butter and cook, while stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Step 6 -Add the flour to the garlic mixture, while whisking constantly, and cook until the raw flour smell disappears, about 1 minute.
Step 7 -Add the milk and the heavy cream to the garlic mixture, while whisking constantly, and simmer until the sauce mixture has just thickened, about 3 minutes.
Step 8 -Add the parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese, the salt, and the black pepper to the sauce mixture and stir constantly until the cheeses have melted.
Step 9 -In a large bowl, add the cooked penne pasta, the cooked chicken, and the sauce mixture and toss to evenly coat.
Step 10 -Evenly transfer the pasta mixture to the bottom of the prepared baking dish and evenly top the mixture with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
Step 11 -Bake, uncovered, until bubbly and the cheeses have started to brown, about 20 minutes.
Step 12 -Serve garnished with the parsley.
