Description
Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Bake delivers pure comfort straight from your kitchen to the dinner table. Melted cheese, tender chicken, and perfectly cooked pasta come together in one delicious dish that’ll have your family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta
- 1 ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
- Chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Warm your oven to a precise 375°F and generously coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Boil 12 oz pasta in salted water for 8-9 minutes until perfectly al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Melt 3 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Sprinkle 3 tbsp flour into the butter and whisk continuously for 1 minute to create a smooth roux.
- Gradually pour 2 cups milk, 1 cup chicken broth, and 1 cup heavy cream into the skillet. Whisk consistently to prevent lumps.
- Simmer the sauce for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens and coats the back of your spoon.
- Stir 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ½ tsp garlic powder, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup mozzarella into the creamy sauce.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper to your taste preferences.
- Fold 2 cups shredded chicken and the cooked pasta into the cheesy sauce until everything is evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to your prepared baking dish, spreading it in an even layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese over the top of the pasta.
- Bake at 375°F for 22-25 minutes until the cheese melts and edges turn golden brown.
- Optional: Activate your broiler and crisp the top for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with chopped parsley and serving hot.
Notes
- Opt for chicken thighs instead of breasts for extra moisture and deeper flavor, ensuring your pasta bake stays tender and rich.
- When cooking pasta, stop just short of al dente since it will continue cooking in the sauce and oven, preventing mushy texture.
- Freshly grated Parmesan melts smoother than pre-shredded cheese, creating a more luxurious sauce with better consistency.
- Let the pasta bake rest for 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven, which helps the sauce set and makes serving easier.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 560 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg