When Italian food is what you’re longing for, this cheesy surprise of a dish will surely hit the spot! Pesto Chicken Alfredo Bake takes the chicken alfredo you love and kicks it up a notch! Bouncy penne pasta, juicy chicken, a blend of Italian cheeses, and rich parmesan cheese do a little meet-and-greet in the oven with some zesty pesto, fresh baby spinach, and crushed tomatoes for a whole new take on the pasta you love. This alfredo sauce will make you pretty excited, so try Pesto Chicken Alfredo Bake and get a little zing back in your pasta step. You are going to love it!
Ingredients
For the pasta:
- 1 (16-ounce) package penne pasta
- 2 cups chicken, cooked and cubed
- 2 cups Italian cheese blend, shredded, divided
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
For the alfredo sauce:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 (8.1-ounce) jar prepared pesto
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
For the breadcrumb topping:
- 1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 3 –In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the penne to al dente, according to the package directions.
Step 4 –Drain the water from the penne and cover the pot to keep warm.
Step 5 –In a large bowl, add the chicken, 1 cup of the Italian cheese blend, the baby spinach, and the tomatoes and stir to combine. Set it aside.
Step 6 –In a large saucepan over medium heat, add the butter, the heavy whipping cream, and the cream cheese and cook, whisking constantly, until the butter and the cream cheese have melted.
Step 7 –Add the pesto to the sauce mixture and stir to combine.
Step 8 –Add the minced garlic, the garlic powder, the Italian seasoning, the salt, and the black pepper to the sauce mixture and whisk until it is smooth.
Step 9 –Add 1 cup of the parmesan cheese to the sauce mixture and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce starts to thicken, about 3-5 minutes.
Step 10 –Add the cooked penne and the sauce to the chicken mixture and toss to coat.
Step 11 –Evenly pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the top with the remaining Italian cheese blend.
Step 12 –In a small bowl, add the breadcrumbs, the remaining parmesan cheese, and the olive oil and stir to combine.
Step 13 –Evenly sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the pasta bake.
Step 14 –Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake the pasta bake until it is heated through and bubbling on the sides, about 30-40 minutes.
Step 15 –Serve.
