Description
Indulgent garlic parmesan chicken pasta bake brings Italian comfort straight to your dinner table. Creamy cheese, tender chicken, and perfectly cooked pasta combine for a hearty meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) rotini pasta, cooked and drained
- 3 cups (450 grams) cooked chicken, diced or shredded
- 2 (15 ounces/425 grams) jars Alfredo sauce
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) garlic parmesan sauce
Cheese:
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the culinary canvas by heating the oven to 375F (190C) and lightly coating a 9×13 inch baking vessel with a non-stick spray or butter to ensure effortless serving.
- Craft the pasta symphony by blending cooked pasta, tender chicken pieces, velvety Alfredo sauce, aromatic garlic parmesan sauce, and half the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses in a spacious mixing bowl. Enhance the flavor profile with a delicate sprinkle of salt and pepper, and optionally introduce a splash of reserved pasta water for added moisture.
- Orchestrate the dish by gently transferring the creamy concoction into the prepared baking dish, ensuring an even distribution that promises a harmonious bite in every spoonful.
- Crown the creation by lavishly scattering the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses across the surface, creating a tantalizing blanket of dairy decadence.
- Transform the dish in the preheated oven, initially covering with aluminum foil and baking for 20-25 minutes until the cheese melts into a bubbling masterpiece.
- For those seeking a golden-brown finale, carefully remove the foil and broil for 2-3 minutes, vigilantly monitoring to prevent any unwelcome charring.
- Allow the pasta bake to rest for 5 minutes, letting the flavors meld and settle, and optionally adorn with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley for a touch of verdant elegance.
- Serve the dish while warm, inviting diners to indulge in this comforting, cheese-laden culinary embrace.
Notes
- Make the dish gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta and checking that all sauces are gluten-free certified.
- Replace chicken with tofu or plant-based protein for a vegetarian version that maintains the creamy, cheesy texture.
- Control the sauce’s consistency by gradually adding reserved pasta water, ensuring the dish doesn’t become too dry or watery.
- Use fresh garlic and grate Parmesan cheese directly for a more intense, authentic flavor profile that elevates the entire dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-28 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 529 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 741 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 86 mg