Chicken is everyone’s favorite but your new weekend hero is the Creamy Dreamy Chicken Alfredo Baked as it is a very creamy and delicious baked pasta dish. You can even prepare it ahead of time on the weekends.
Table of Contents
Creamy Dreamy Chicken Alfredo Baked: Your Weekend Hero
When you crave chicken and something comfortingly creamy and satisfying, make homemade Chicken Alfredo Baked that brings your whole family together at the dinner table.
This is a must try recipe for this delicious baked pasta dish that is made with tender chicken along with ranch, Alfredo sauce, gooey cheese and perfectly cooked pasta.
This recipe can be a great comforting weekend meal for you on busy days as it can be a game changer to prepare ahead of time.
The complete recipe of this recipe is explained with easy ingredients as well as professional cooking tips which you can learn along with all the step by step process of Chicken Alfredo Baked.
Reasons why I love Chicken Alfredo Baked:-
- This recipe is very high in protein as each navel has a tender piece of chicken breast which makes it amazing.
- This is a creamy and cheesy dish made with mozzarella, Alfredo sauce and Parmesan.
- This can be made ahead of time and is perfect to keep in the fridge.
- If someone is fussy or picky, this is a great recipe that they will ask for again.
- The ingredients used in this recipe are easily available in your home and pantry and are mostly essential items that you would need in your fridge.
Ingredients:-
- Baking Ingredients-
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, ground
- 1 tablespoon olive oil to use in baking dish
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, grated
- 2 cups chicken breast, cooked, cubed or shredded
- 3 cups penne or rigatoni pasta, cooked – al dente
- 3 cups Alfredo sauce, store-bought or homemade – recipe mentioned below.
Optional Ingredients:-.
- 1/2 cup roasted mushrooms
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes for spiciness
- 1 cup boiled broccoli
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Ingredients – Alfredo sauce, homemade optional but, be disciplined
- You can make Alfredo sauce at home within 8 to 10 minutes and it tastes much better
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated.
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method: –
- Take a sauce pan and place it on medium flame, add butter and melt it.
- Add chopped garlic and saute for 50 seconds to a minute.
- Now add heavy cream and mix it, then reduce the flame and continue cooking.
- Add parmesan cheese and keep stirring continuously until it melts and becomes smooth.
- Now finally add salt and pepper as per your requirement. Now your Alfredo sauce is ready.
Step by step process to make Creamy Dreamy Chicken Alfredo Baked:-
1. Preheating
- Preheat the oven to 375° Fahrenheit (190° Celsius).
- Place your 9*13 inch baking dish on the oven and lightly grease it with olive oil or non-stick spray so that the dishes do not stick to it.
- Keep it aside for further preparation.
2. Cooking the pasta
- Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add three cups of dry pasta and cook until it is al dente. Keep in mind that instructions are given on the packet, keep it for about 1 to 2 minutes.
- After cooking, drain the water and keep it aside. Keep in mind that it should not be cooked too much because it cooks in the oven.
Information:- If your pasta is sticking, then to avoid this, mix it by adding or sprinkling a little olive oil.
3. Preparing the Chicken
- Now take fresh chicken, note – if you have leftover grilled chicken or rotisserie chicken then you can use it.
- To cook fresh chicken –
- Take a pan and heat it on medium high flame then add a little olive oil to the pan.
- Add boneless or skinless chicken breast, black pepper, garlic powder, salt and Italian seasoning and mix.
- Cook the chicken for 6 to 7 minutes to cook it on all sides or until its internal temperature reaches 165° Fahrenheit.
- Once cooked, take it out of the pan and keep it at room temperature for few minutes and cut it into small pieces or chop it finely.
4. Making the Creamy Alfredo Mixture
Take a large mixing bowl and add the following ingredients-
- Cooked chicken,
- Cooked pasta,
- Alfredo sauce,
- Garlic powder,
- Mozzarella,
- Onion powder,
- Sour Italian seasoning,
- Parmesan cheese (add all in the quantities mentioned)
- Mix all the ingredients well until they are incorporated.
Optional:- If you want to use more vegetables or other veggies then you can add roasted mushrooms or broccoli and mix.
5. Preparing for Baking
Place your creamy pasta in a greased baking dish and spread it evenly with the help of a spatula. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and then 1/2 cup parmesan cheese on top of it which makes it taste better and the Creamy Dreamy Chicken Alfredo Bake looks amazing.
6. Bake until golden
Place the preheated baking dish in the oven and bake, uncovered, for 26 to 30 minutes.
This will allow the cheese to melt and bubble and the top of the dish to turn golden brown.
Optional: For a crispy cheese topping, broil for 3 minutes at the last minute to ensure a better crispness.
7. Rest then Garnish
When it comes out of the oven, let it rest at room temperature for 8 to 10 minutes and sprinkle some chopped basil or parsley over it.
Serve hot with a fresh Caesar salad or garlic bread.
Storing and reheating: –
To store, first cool it completely to room temperature.
Now put the leftover pasta in an airtight container and refrigerate it for three to four days.
Refrigerating: –
- To store for longer periods – place the baked pasta in a freezer safe dish.
- Note: Before baking, cover it tightly in a file and then put it in the fridge and,
- It will remain safe for a long time, about 2 months, which can be used.
Reheating: –
- To reheat once, you can microwave it for 3 minutes.
- To reheat a larger quantity, use the oven and reheat it for 18 to 20 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit.
Some successful tips for baking Creamy Dreamy Chicken Alfredo: ·
The pasta should be cooked less as it cooks quickly in the oven.
Use homemade Alfredo sauce as it is very creamy and thick which is perfect for this recipe.
Broccoli, spinach or mushrooms can be used to make this dish more nutritious.
Grate your own cheese as it is better than pre-grated cheese and melts well.
You can make a large quantity of this recipe.
What to serve with Chicken Alfredo Baked for a classic and perfect accompaniment:
Side dishes to balance the flavour:
- Breadsticks or garlic bread
- Caesar salad
- Broccoli or green beans, boiled
- A glass of sparkling water or Chardonnay to make it even better
To Change Up the Taste: –
This is one such recipe that you can easily change up with many wonderful flavors.
For your favorite Garlic Lover Alfredo Baked – add roasted fresh garlic or garlic cloves to the sauce.
To get a Four Cheese Alfredo Baked – use some of these ingredients like provolone, parmesan, cheddar, mozzarella etc.
To make Spicy Chicken Alfredo add red pepper flakes or you can also use our Jun Spicy Chicken.
For Chicken Alfredo Baked – add crumbled crispy bacon to give it a smoky flavor, most people like this.
Final Thoughts
Creamy Dreamy Chicken Alfredo Bake is not just a pasta dish, it is also a very comforting experience for you. If you are planning to make something for a family dinner or to welcome guests at home, and when it comes to stocking up your freezer, this recipe is perfect in every way and trust me it never disappoints and guarantees a great taste in every bite.
This is a dish that you can change again and again. The recipe is very easy to make at home, so get ready to make it right now.