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 9×13-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.
