This chicken Alfredo bake is penne pasta tossed with cooked chicken and a creamy sauce, then topped with cheese and baked to perfection. A comfort food classic that’s perfect for feeding a crowd!
My family enjoys a good hearty pasta dish such as chicken parmesan pasta, seafood pasta, and this ultra creamy and decadent chicken alfredo. No one can resist all that gooey melted cheese!
Fettuccine Alfredo is a a classic dish for good reason – everyone adores that combination of tender noodles in a creamy sauce! This chicken Alfredo bake is a hearty dinner option that is sure to impress your family and friends.
How do you make chicken alfredo bake?
This recipe starts with a homemade cream sauce, which can be made in minutes with a little butter, flour, milk, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, and heavy cream. I typically make my sauce while I’m waiting for the pasta to cook. After the pasta and sauce are ready, they’re tossed together with cooked cubed chicken, then everything goes into a baking dish. The finishing touch is a generous amount of shredded cheese. Bake your pasta dish until the cheese is melted and browned, then add a sprinkling of parsley and enjoy!
Tips for chicken alfredo bake
- You can use any kind of cooked chicken. This recipe works great with roasted chicken, shredded chicken made in the slow cooker, or even with a store bought rotisserie chicken.
- Feel free to use your favorite short pasta such as rigatoni, fusilli or farfalle.
- This recipe works best with freshly grated cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is often coated with anti-caking agents and will not melt as smoothly as if you grate the cheese yourself.
- The Alfredo sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance. If you’re short on time, you can also use a high quality refrigerated Alfredo pasta sauce from the grocery store.
Chicken alfredo variations
This chicken Alfredo bake is a real crowd pleaser as-is, but you can also add other flavors to suit your taste.
- Shrimp: Try adding 3/4 cup cooked shrimp, or you can replace all of the chicken with shrimp for a seafood version of this dish.
- Vegetables: You can add vegetables like spinach, sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms, or fresh diced tomatoes.
- Cheese: For a different flavor, try using some pecorino romano or asiago cheese instead of the parmesan.
- Meat: The salty and savory flavors of bacon and prosciutto are excellent in this Alfredo bake.
- Herbs: You can use other herbs instead of parsley such as chives, thyme or fresh basil.
- Stuffed Pasta: Try using cheese ravioli or tortellini instead of penne for an extra dose of cheesy flavor.
Can you make baked pasta in advance?
This pasta bake can be made in advance and refrigerated. It will be good up to three days in the refrigerator. To reheat it simply cover the pasta in aluminum foil and bake it at 350 degrees F until the pasta reaches 165 degrees F. It will take about 45 minutes to reheat it in the oven.
This chicken Alfredo bake takes a classic dish and turns it into a cheesy masterpiece that is sure to delight. There is nothing like delicious, creamy Alfredo covered in bubbly cheese straight out of the oven!
More great pasta recipes
Chicken Alfredo Bake
Ingredients
- 12 ounces penne pasta cooked in salted water according to package directions
- 3 cups diced cooked chicken
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided use
- salt and pepper to taste
- cooking spray
- 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 3 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in the milk and cream, then simmer, whisking constantly, until sauce has just thickened.
- Add the parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella to the milk mixture, along with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir until cheese has melted.
- Place the pasta and chicken in a large bowl. Pour the sauce over the top, and toss to coat evenly.
- Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared pan, and top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until pasta is bubbly and cheese has just started to brown.
- Sprinkle parsley over the top, then serve.
Cat says
Could I make the sauce with skim milk instead of whole?
Sara says
I haven’t tried it that way but I think it would work!
Caroline says
Could you freeze this?
Sara says
Typically dairy doesn’t freeze well so I wouldn’t recommend it!
Nori says
This sounds yummy! I’ve decided I’m making this for Christmas this year!!! Have you made it with fettuccine noodles? Just wondered which would be best.
Sara says
Yes fettuccine noodles will work just fine!
Jienelle King says
This is an awesome recipe. It is going to The Best!!! Tomorrowj my whole family will be here for Christmas. wanted to do an italian bar. Made a great homemade lasagna and will have a nice ceasar salad And garlic knots and cheese bread. Yummy. My thank ss to you. Merry Christmas
Melissa says
Can I make the sauce ahead of time and cook the pasta fresh the day of and assemble? Would I reheat the sauce before combining it all?
Sara says
Yes that works, and you don’t have to reheat the sauce first!
Ashley B. says
Could I prep this ahead of time & refrigerate until I’m ready to bake it? Or do you recommend baking then just re-heating?
Sara says
That should be fine to prep ahead and bake later!
Madison says
Phenomenal recipe. I cooked the chicken in my air fryer so it was perfectly crispy in the bake.
Kimberly says
Sooo good and the perfect meal for the whole family to enjoy!
Becky Hardin says
Oh I am making this for dinner tonight. YUM!
lauren kelly says
This is the ultimate comfort food! My entire family devoured it so fast!
Jennifer says
Comfort food at its finest! LOVE this dish!
Katerina @ diethood .com says
YUM!! This looks SO creamy and delicious!! My family would LOVE it!!
MJA80 says
Excellent! Whole family loved this recipe…a must add to the short list o weeklyf family favorites!
Stephanie says
A++ This recipe was so delicious! Definitely making it again soon.
Beth Pierce says
This is everything a gourmet recipe should be, and then some! This was amazing; can’t wait to enjoy this again later this week!
Jacquelyn Hastert says
I love how cheesy this is! Chicken alfredo is one of our favorites, but this might be even more of a hit!
Lora says
Creamy and dreamy…total comfort food in every bite!!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This is seriously making me hungry! This is such an exciting idea!
Dorothy Reinhold says
I have been looking for some new ideas for dinner. This looks amazing. Love that I can use a rotisserie chicken to make it faster. I also love all of the ideas for additional add-ins.