Who’s our favorite? Ahh, well, we’re not really supposed to have favorites, but if we had to choose, it’d definitely be Star Student Alfredo Bake. This dish is just such a delicious delight to be around! The creamy, cheesy Alfredo sauce, the butter, fluffy pasta, and the herby, juicy chicken are deserving of all the gold star stickers out there! Every time you enjoy it, you’ll understand why we think this bubbly, cheesy Star Student Alfredo Bake is such a pleasure to have on our plates!
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 4 tablespoons butter, plus more for greasing the baking dish
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 pound chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups half-and-half
- 1/2 cup parmesan, freshly grated
- 1 cup mozzarella, shredded and divided
- 1/4 cup parsley, freshly chopped
Directions
Step 1 –Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions.
Step 2 –Drain the water from the pot and set it aside.
Step 3 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 4 –Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 5 –Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Step 6 –Season both sides of the chicken with the Italian seasoning, the salt, and the pepper.
Step 7 –Add the seasoned chicken to the skillet and cook until the internal temperature of the thickest part reads 145 degrees F, about 8 minutes per side.
Step 8 –Transfer the cooked chicken to a paper towel-lined plate.
Step 9 –Carefully wipe the skillet clean of grease.
Step 10 –Let the cooked chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice crosswise.
Step 11 –Return the skillet over medium heat and melt the butter.
Step 12 –Add the garlic and the garlic powder to the melted butter and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Step 13 –Whisk the flour into the butter mixture and cook until bubbling and golden, about 1 minute.
Step 14 –Gradually pour the half-and-half into the butter mixture, whisking constantly.
Step 15 –Bring the sauce mixture to a simmer and stir in the parmesan.
Step 16 –Let the sauce simmer until it thickens, about 1 minute, then season with the salt and the pepper.
Step 17 –Transfer the sauce away from the heat.
Step 18 –In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, the cooked chicken, and the alfredo sauce.
Step 19 –Spread 1/2 of the pasta mixture on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Step 20 –Sprinkle the pasta mixture with 1/2 of the mozzarella.
Step 21 –Repeat the layers starting with the pasta mixture.
Step 22 –Bake, uncovered, until the cheese is melty and bubbly, about 15 minutes.
Step 23 –Slice, garnish with the parsley, and serve.
