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.
This recipe has become a family favorite. I have three boys and they absolutely love it. I broil it for a couple minutes at the end to get a crispy top. I do 1.5 cups milk and 1.5 cups heavy cream and use 16 oz of noodles because that’s the size they come. Perfect evert time!
Will frozen spinach work in this recipe
It should be fine just make sure you wring out any excess water when it’s thawed!
Super tasty! The recipe leaves room for your very own alfredo preferences :] I’d recommend adding onion!
This was so good! Easy to make and my whole family loved it.
Can i use heavy whipping cream instead of heavy cream? And do I cook the chicken before combining it with the sauce?
Heavy whipping cream is fine and yes you cook the chicken first!
You add raw pasta or cooked pasta??
The pasta should be cooked first!
Can you use spaghetti or fettuccine noddles instead?
Yes that will work!
Do you reccomend fresh mozzarella or low moisture mozzarella for this dish? Thanks!
Low moisture mozzarella is best!
This looks delicious.
If I don’t want to use chicken, do I need to add more pasta to make up for the missing chicken?
You could add more pasta but then you might want to consider also making more of the sauce. It just depends on how many people you’re trying to feed!
I have made this so many times. I add a little more garlic and it comes out soooo good. One of my most requested meals!
Can I prepare ahead of time, store in fridge and bake when ready? If so how long do you think it will cook out of the fridge.
Yes that’s fine, you’ll want to add about 20-25 minutes to the bake time!
Great recipe!! I cooked almost exactly. Instead of 3/4 cup parmessan I did 1cup and I added a lil more mozzerella on top before baking. Oh and I used about a tbsp or so of garlic. My kids devoured it and I’ll cook again. Saved to my favorites thank you for sharing!!!!
What are your thoughts on adding onions? And if so, how would you suggest doing it?
I would saute the onions and add them to the sauce!
How much Alfredo sauce do I use if I’m using store bought sauce?
A 15 ounce jar!
Would you suggest baking it and then freezing it, or preparing it and baking it when ready to eat?
You can bake when ready to eat!
If I was to add broccoli, should I blanch the broccoli first before mixing into the casserole?
Yes I would blanch it first!
Love it! Turned out Great and my picky toddlers loved it!
This recipe is easy and delicious. Accidentally added all of the mozzarella cheese to the sauce, but it still turned out really good! Highly recommend!
Is this good to freeze?
Yes it should be fine!
Can you use canned chicken?
I think that should work fine!