Description
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Bake brings comfort straight to your dinner table with cheesy, creamy goodness that’ll make everyone smile. Loaded with tender chicken and a golden, crispy topping, this dish turns weeknight meals into something special you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 3 cups chicken, diced or shredded
- 1 pound rotini pasta
Cheeses and Sauces:
- 2 (15-ounce) jars Alfredo sauce
- 1 cup garlic parmesan sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Seasonings:
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Grab a large mixing bowl and combine the 3 cups of cooked chicken, entire box of cooked rotini pasta, 2 jars of Alfredo sauce, and 1 cup of garlic parmesan sauce.
- Stir in 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup of grated Parmesan cheese into the pasta mixture. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper throughout the mixture.
- Pour in ½ cup of reserved pasta water to help create a smoother, creamier consistency. Mix all ingredients until evenly distributed.
- Transfer the entire pasta mixture into your prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer.
- Top the casserole with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella and ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese, ensuring complete coverage.
- Drape aluminum foil over the baking dish and slide it into the 375°F oven for 22 minutes.
- Remove the foil and return the dish to the oven for an additional 3 minutes to help the cheese become golden and slightly crispy.
- Allow the pasta bake to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven. Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley across the top before serving.
Notes
- Fresh garlic makes a huge difference, so crush or mince it right before adding to capture the most intense flavor.
- Reserve some pasta water carefully, as the starchy liquid helps create a silky, smooth sauce that clings perfectly to the noodles.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular pasta with chickpea or rice pasta and use a gluten-free Alfredo sauce.
- When broiling, keep your oven rack about 4-5 inches from the heating element and watch the dish like a hawk to prevent burning the cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-28 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 640 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 48 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg