Description
Garlic parmesan chicken pasta bake combines creamy textures with bold Italian flavors in one comforting dish. Cheese-covered pasta and tender chicken create a hearty meal that satisfies your deepest comfort cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups chicken, cooked and cut into pieces or shredded
- 1 lb (454 g) rotini pasta, cooked and drained
- 2 jars (15 oz/425 g each) alfredo sauce
- 1 cup garlic parmesan sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup (118 ml) pasta cooking water (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Mixing: In a large bowl, blend fully cooked pasta, diced chicken, Alfredo sauce, garlic Parmesan sauce, and half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Season with salt and pepper, adjusting to taste. If mixture seems dry, add reserved pasta water to create a smooth consistency.
- Assembly: Transfer the pasta-chicken mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Top with remaining cheese, creating a complete coverage.
- Initial Baking: Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20-25 minutes until thoroughly heated and cheese begins to melt.
- Finishing: Remove foil, switch oven to broil, and position dish 4-5 inches from heat source. Broil 2-3 minutes until cheese turns golden and develops a crispy texture.
- Serving: Allow dish to rest for 5 minutes, letting flavors meld and cheese set. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm, ensuring each portion has abundant cheese and chicken.
Notes
- Optimize Pasta Moisture: Add reserved pasta water gradually to prevent a dry casserole, ensuring a creamy, smooth texture throughout the dish.
- Prevent Cheese Burning: Cover with foil during initial baking to protect the cheese from excessive browning and achieve perfect melting consistency.
- Boost Flavor Depth: Season generously with salt and pepper, tasting the mixture before baking to balance the overall flavor profile.
- Achieve Perfect Broil: Watch closely during the final 2-3 minutes of broiling to create a golden, crispy cheese topping without burning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 585
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 960 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg