Description
Homestyle chicken penne casserole brings comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Creamy pasta, tender chicken, and melted cheese combine for a hearty meal that hugs your taste buds with pure, simple goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of chicken soup
- 1 cup sour cream
- ½ cup milk
Seasonings and Toppings:
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions
- Prepare your oven at 350°F and coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter to prevent sticking.
- Boil 12 ounces of penne pasta in salted water until just shy of fully cooked, about 7-8 minutes.
- Drain the pasta and return to the pot, mixing in 2 cups diced chicken, 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup, 1 cup sour cream, and ½ cup milk.
- Season the mixture with ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, and salt and pepper to your taste.
- Transfer half the pasta mixture into the buttered baking dish and sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese across the surface.
- Add the remaining pasta mixture on top of the cheese layer, creating a second pasta level.
- Scatter the final 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole.
- Melt 2 tablespoons butter and mix with ½ cup breadcrumbs in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Spread the buttered breadcrumbs evenly across the casserole surface for a crispy topping.
- Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes until the edges bubble and the top turns golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Drain pasta super well to prevent a watery casserole and ensure maximum flavor absorption.
- Swap cream of chicken soup for homemade white sauce if avoiding processed ingredients, keeping the same creamy texture.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like sharp cheddar or pepper jack to customize the flavor profile.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta and replace breadcrumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or almond flour.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 444 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg