Description
This creamy garlic parmesan chicken pasta bake is a comforting dish that combines tender chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and a luscious garlic parmesan sauce, making it a favorite for families and gatherings.
Ingredients
1 pound Penne or rigatoni pasta
1.5 pounds Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups Heavy cream
1 cup Chicken broth
1.5 cups Freshly grated parmesan cheese, divided
2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
6–8 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
4 tablespoons Butter
3 tablespoons All-purpose flour
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray
- Step 2: Cook the pasta according to package directions, reducing cooking time by 2 minutes. Drain and set aside
- Step 3: Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and half the Italian seasoning. Cook in a skillet over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of butter for 5-6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and let rest before cutting into bite-sized pieces
- Step 4: In the same skillet, melt remaining butter, add minced garlic, and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle flour over the mixture and whisk for about 1 minute
- Step 5: Gradually pour in chicken broth and then heavy cream, whisking to prevent lumps. Add remaining Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, and bring to a gentle simmer
- Step 6: Stir in 1 cup of parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Adjust seasonings as needed
- Step 7: In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, chicken pieces, and the creamy sauce. Mix thoroughly and transfer to the prepared baking dish
- Step 8: Top with mozzarella cheese and remaining parmesan. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly
- Step 9: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
You can use rotisserie chicken to save time.
For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and cornstarch instead of flour.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 145mg