A simple and delicious casserole version of a dish every family loves! Give this Chicken Alfredo Bake a try for your next dinner! Pasta, chicken, lots of cheese, and yummy seasonings make this recipe a hit!
Everyone loves a good casserole, and why not make one from the classic Chicken Alfredo?! Not only is this recipe delicious and cheesy, but it’s loved by all and perfect for a crowd.
casserole version of a classic
Who doesn’t love Pasta?! I’ve shared our love before and admit that we make at least one pasta dish a week. Our favorites include Spaghetti, Homemade Mac and Cheese, Creamy Penne Pasta – you name it!
Today’s recipe is also a new favorite – Chicken Alfredo casserole. We love it for so many reasons, but just like the other pastas listed, we love them because:
- They are always delicious – usually butter and lots of cheese are involved (which means you can’t go wrong).
- The WHOLE family loves it.
Yes, it’s true – my kids aren’t always picky, but we still struggle to get in some green veggies. Pasta is never an issue though, which means we make it all the time.
We LOVE Fettuccine Alfredo and knew a casserole version with chicken would be just as good. Of course, everyone loved it, and with lots of cheese, chicken and delicious spices, I have a feeling you will too. 😉
How to make + BAKE
This Alfredo bake begins with cooking the pasta, as directed on the box (we used penne for this recipe) as well as cooking the chicken.
Always try to marinate your chicken, if possible, because it adds so much flavor. We do this by throwing it in a bag of Italian dressing and let sit overnight or even a few hours!
Slice your marinated chicken in half so they are thinner pieces so they cook through evenly, then rub them in a mixture of seasonings before cooking them in a skillet with oil (you can also BAKE your chicken).
To make the sauce, melt the butter in another large skillet. Add garlic and cook for 1 – 2 minutes. Using a wire whisk, mix in flour and stir until bubbly. Mix in half & half and milk, then stir to combine. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to low heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
With your whisk, mix in 1½ cup of cheese. Cook an additional 5 minutes until sauce starts to thicken and then remove sauce from heat.
Cut your cooked chicken into bite size pieces and add to a large bowl. Add the cooked pasta to your bowl and then the sauce. Mix everything to combine.
Spray a 9×13 baking pan with non stick spray. Add the pasta mixture to the pan and sprinkle with an additional 1½ cup of cheese, then bake this cheesy chicken casserole for 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.
Can you use other pastas? You can definitely use your pasta of choice for this recipe. We used penne, but you can also use fettuccine, mini penne, rigatoni, or linguine. We recommend using penne or fettuccine.
You can also add veggies to this dish too – fettuccine and broccoli would both be great additions.
MAKING AHEAD + FREEZING
Can you make this ahead of time? We often make baked pasta dishes ahead of time. We typically do this the morning of. Just make as directed and then cover and place in the fridge for up to 24 hours in advance.
Can you freeze baked Alfredo? Yes, you can. Whether it’s leftovers or before it’s baked, you can freeze this dish if done properly for up to 2-3 months in the freezer.
What to serve with?
There are so many great sides and breads that go great with this chicken Alfredo casserole. Here are some of our favorites:
Again – so many options! Be sure to check out our sides and salads for even more ideas.
There are quite a few steps to this recipe, but they are so easy! If you’ve made pasta dishes like this before, then it’s all pretty standard. You can even change it up by adding some of your favorite veggies or making a non-meat version and leaving out the chicken. 😉
For more cheesy pasta recipes, check out:
- Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta
- Bowtie Pasta with Italian Sausage
- Chicken and Asparagus Pasta
- Three Cheese Pasta Bake
- Homemade Mac and Cheese
- Cheesy Baked Tortellini
Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 12 oz. pkg penne pasta
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts marinated in Italian dressing if desired
- vegetable oil
- 1/4 tsp thyme
- 1/4 tsp poultry seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 TB olive oil
- 1/2 c butter
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 4 TB flour
- 3 c half and half
- 3 c milk
- 3 c Kraft Italian Five Cheese Blend divided
- Italian Seasoning, garnish
Instructions
- If time allows, always try to marinate your chicken. Throw them in a bag of Italian dressing and let sit overnight or even a few hours will help your chicken to be tender and full of flavor.
- Cook pasta as directed. Drain and set aside.
- While pasta is cooking, heat 1 - 2 TB of oil in a skillet on medium heat.
- Slice your marinated chicken in half so they are thinner pieces. This will help them cook through evenly.
- In a bowl mix salt, pepper, thyme and poultry seasoning and rub it on all sides of your chicken breasts. Add chicken to hot oil and cook on both sides until done (about 15-20 minutes). Remove to a plate to let cool.
- While chicken is cooling, preheat your oven to 350 and start on your sauce. In a separate large skillet melt the butter; add garlic and cook for 1 - 2 minutes.
- Using a wire whisk, mix in flour and stir until bubbly. Mix in half & half and milk, stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce to low heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- With your whisk, mix in 1½ cup of cheese. Cook an additional 5 minutes until sauce starts to thicken. Remove sauce from heat.
- Cut your cooked chicken into bite size pieces and add to a large bowl. Add the pasta to your bowl and then the sauce. Mix everything to combine.
- Spray a 9x13 baking pan with non stick spray. Add the pasta mixture to the pan and sprinkle with an additional 1½ cup of cheese.
- Sprinkle with pepper and bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown.
Would it be okay to use less half and half? I only have 2 cups. Also im wondering why so much when theres already 3 cups of milk? Just seems like a lot
You could 🙂 It makes it so creamy.
There are 2 different types of Kraft Italian 5 Cheese. One says with Philadelphia Cream Cheese, the other doesn’t. the one you mentioned in the recipe does not say with Philadelphia but down in the comments you say use the one with cream cheese?
The one with cream cheese 🙂 Hope you like it!
what is half and half
Half-and-half is simply an equal-parts combination of milk and cream. It is half whole milk, half heavy cream. You can find it in the grocery store by the milk/cream/dairy products in the refrigerators. You can also create it yourself by combining 1/2 cup whole milk and 1/2 cup heavy cream.
Can I just use leftover baked chicken or rotisserie chicken? if so, what quantity?
Of course 🙂 I’d use like 2 cups. You could always add more or less, depending on how much chicken you like. Enjoy!
Hello, looking forward to trying this out!! I am going to try and make it tonight, refirgerate it and put in crock pot tomorrow. I know from other alfredo sauces, the butter seperates but from the comments about left overs, i am guessing this is not the case here?
I am salavating just looking at the pictures!! 🙂
It’s a good one! Hope you like it! Not really, but we hardly ever have left overs. Enjoy!
This looks so good. I love anything with alfredo sauce so I know this will be amazing. Thanks for sharing!!
I do too!! Hope you like it 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I’m taking a meal to a family and this would be perfect! Do you know if it would be freezeable? Sorry if you mentioned this and I missed that part!
Yes, totally can. Thank you for sharing this 🙂
your chicken alfredo recipe sounds so good! That’s a go to for my husband and me, however, we’re gone alot and I was hoping you could share how I might be able to do this in my crock pot. The time and any other suggestions. Thank you!
I have not tried it in the crock pot, but I am sure it would work. I would think low for 3-4 hrs setting.
Amazing
Thank you so much!! I agree 🙂
What a great recipe and it turned out perfect.. My family love it. The leftovers were even better the next day. My daugter Is already asking when can i make it again!
Yes, leftovers are better the next day! I am so happy to hear your family loved it! Thank you!
Really good of course i added a little splash of spanish seasoning to my chicken but everythjng else was followed exact.
Perfect! Thank you for letting me know!
I know, it probably doesn’t taste as good, but could you use a jar of alfredo sauce & wood you recommend adding anything to it if I did that to doctor it up some??
You sure could. I would just continue to add the spices on the recipe 🙂 Hope you like it!
In stead of making the sauce can i use jared Alfredo sauce???
Yes, of course 🙂 Enjoy!!
Can you use heavy whipping cream instead of the half and half? If so how mUch should i use?
I personally have not tried that, so I would need to experiment on the right amount of half & half. I wouldn’t want to tell you the wrong amount.
This was OK BUT THERE WAS NO “ALFREDO” TASTE TO IT. I LOVE YOUR WEBSITE AND USE A LOT OF YOUR RECIPES BUT THIS I PROBABLY WOULDN’T MAKE AGAIN…SORRY
No worries..thank you for trying it 🙂
So good! i recommend using fennel in the chicken marinade or when you’re cooking it. Cheers.
Glad you liked it! Thank you so much!
Any kind Of italian dressing?
Yep, any kind of Italian dressing 😉 Enjoy!
Just subscribed to this website recently. LOve the RECIPES! I prep my dinner for the week every sunday. I have used at least one of your recipes every week. Very delicious and easy. Instructions included on make ahead or Freeze. Thank you and keep the recipes coming.
You are so welcome & I am so glad to hear that! Thank you!
One of my very favorite pastas to make! So delicious! And easy! We have this one a month!
My kids beg for this! So good
This came out wonderfull but used 2 cups les on the milk/ 1/2&1/2. Added broccoli and it was great. thanks for sharing!
Glad to share!! Thank you for trying it!