Chicken Alfredo Bake is a creamy, cheesy pasta dinner made with penne, tender seasoned chicken, homemade Alfredo sauce, and Italian cheese. The chicken can be marinated in Italian dressing for even more flavor, then sliced, cooked, and baked with pasta until bubbly and golden.
We love this for family dinners, Sunday meals, potlucks, and feeding a crowd because it bakes in a 9×13 pan and feels hearty without being hard. Serve it with salad, Garlic Bread, Breadsticks, or Roasted Vegetables for a dinner everyone will be excited about.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- Perfect for Busy Nights: Assemble it ahead of time and let the oven finish dinner.
- Feeds a Crowd: A 9×13-inch pan is perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or sharing with friends.
- Comfort Food Classic: Every bite is loaded with creamy sauce, pasta, and melty cheese.
- Homemade Alfredo Sauce: The buttery garlic sauce is rich, smooth, and much more flavorful than jarred sauce.
Chicken Alfredo Bake Ingredients
- Penne pasta (1 (12-ounce) package): Holds the creamy Alfredo sauce inside and out, making every bite flavorful. Rotini or ziti also work well.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts (3, marinated in Italian dressing if desired): Adds hearty protein and stay tender when marinated before cooking. Chicken thighs can also be substituted.
- Vegetable oil: Helps cook the chicken evenly without sticking to the pan.
- Thyme (¼ teaspoon): Adds subtle earthy flavor that complements the creamy sauce.
- Poultry seasoning (¼ teaspoon): Boosts the flavor of the chicken with a simple blend of herbs.
- Salt and pepper (to taste): Seasons both the chicken and the finished casserole.
- Olive oil (2 tablespoons): Helps cook the chicken while adding a little extra flavor.
- Butter (½ cup): Forms the rich base of the homemade Alfredo sauce.
- Minced garlic (2 teaspoons): Adds classic savory flavor to the Alfredo sauce. Fresh garlic gives the best flavor.
- All-purpose flour (4 tablespoons): Thickens the sauce into a creamy consistency.
- Half and half (3 cups): Creates a rich, velvety Alfredo sauce without being overly heavy.
- Milk (3 cups): Balances the richness of the sauce while keeping it smooth and creamy.
- Kraft Italian Five Cheese Blend (3 cups, divided): Melts into the sauce and creates a golden, cheesy topping. Freshly shredded cheese also works well.
- Italian seasoning (garnish): Adds a pop of color and extra herb flavor before serving.
How to Make Chicken Alfredo Bake
OPTIONAL MARINADE. If time allows, marinate the chicken. Add chicken and Italian dressing to a bag. Let it sit overnight or even for a few hours to make the chicken tender and full of flavor.
PASTA. Cook pasta as directed. Drain and set aside.
While pasta is cooking, heat 1-2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet on medium heat.
CHICKEN. 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. 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.
SAUCE. While the chicken is cooling, preheat your oven to 350°F 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 (you can also sub these two for heavy cream), and stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce to low heat and simmer for minutes.
With your whisk, mix in 1½ cups of cheese. Cook for an additional 5 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken.
Remove sauce from heat.
ASSEMBLE. 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.
BAKE. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Add the pasta mixture to the pan and sprinkle with an additional 1½ cups of cheese.
Sprinkle with pepper and bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown. Garnish the dish with chopped parsley, if desired.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Marinate the chicken in Italian dressing for a few hours or overnight if you have time.
- Slice the chicken breasts in half before cooking so they cook evenly and more quickly.
- Whisk the flour into the melted butter and garlic until bubbly before adding the liquids.
- Simmer the sauce until it starts to thicken before mixing it with the pasta and chicken.
- Make-ahead tip: assemble the pasta bake earlier in the day, cover and refrigerate, then bake when ready, adding a few extra minutes if it starts cold.
Chicken Alfredo Bake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) package penne pasta
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, marinated in Italian dressing if desired
- vegetable oil
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
- ¼ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup butter
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups half and half
- 3 cups milk
- 3 cups 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 tablespoons 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 the chicken is cooling, preheat your oven to 350°F 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 9×13 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.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken in Italian dressing for a few hours or overnight if you have time.
- Slice the chicken breasts in half before cooking so they cook evenly and more quickly.
- Whisk the flour into the melted butter and garlic until bubbly before adding the liquids.
- Simmer the sauce until it starts to thicken before mixing it with the pasta and chicken.
- Make-ahead tip: assemble the pasta bake earlier in the day, cover and refrigerate, then bake when ready, adding a few extra minutes if it starts cold.
Nutrition
Recipe FAQ
Prepare as directed, cover, and place in the fridge. We typically do this the night before or the morning of, but it can be stored up to 24 hours before baking, or wrap the dish with plastic and again with foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
Store leftovers in an airtight container(s) in the fridge for 3-4 days, or freeze for about 2 months.
Reheat slowly over low heat and add extra milk to help smooth out the texture.
If you are in a hurry or on the go, reheat smaller portions in the microwave.
Complete the Meal
Side Dishes
Cheesy Garlic Bread
20 mins
Baked Parmesan Asparagus
25 mins
Oven Roasted Vegetables
35 mins
Garlic Knot Recipe
20 mins
Cheesy Pastas
Triple Cheddar Chicken Pasta
35 mins
Best Homemade Mac and Cheese
40 mins
Cheesy Tortellini Pasta
20 mins
Pasta Bake
35 mins
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This recipe was first shared May, 2015.
Just discovered something else, I used cold milk and cream and it took so long for them to come to a boil that the mixture burned. Tastes awful and have to throw away.
You should edit your recipe to mention Hat you need a VERY large skillet to hold all the milks. Mine boiled over and made a mess of my stovetop.
I’m sorry that happened. As long as you stir it every now & then, your milk mixture shouldn’t burn. Thanks for giving it a try though!
This was super yummy! Other comments were right – this does make a LOT of food. I halved the recipe and my family of 3 will have plenty of leftovers for dinner tomorrow. The sauce was great even though it took time and work – all good sauces take work! And they’re way better than the kind from a jar. Those that said their sauce was sour – I think they boiled the whole time instead of taking it down to a simmer. Serve with a side of green veggies and you’ve got a perfect meal!
Thanks so much!! And, I agree that the good stuff takes time! I am so glad you all liked it!
I don’t have half and half at home is it feasible to substitute whole milk for the half and half?
I haven’t tried, but I’m sure you could. I know you could add butter to it, as well or heavy cream. I would google substitutes for half & half & see what it suggests. Hope that helps you & hope you like this recipe!
I made this and it was delicious. Super easy and my family gobbled it down. I enjoy this Alfredo sauce and it is so easy to make. This is my go to for chicken Alfredo. 5 ⭐️
Yay!!! SO happy to hear that! Thanks so much!
This is a family favorite, it has replaced my pampered chef Alfredo sauce. I cut the liquids in half, I use 2 cups of heavy whipping cream and 1 cup of milk. I like to add chopped broccoli In the mix.
That sounds yum! Thank you for sharing! I’m glad you like it!
I made this, it looked amazing and smelt great. But it tasted like sour milk, really bad. And no, the half and half and milk were new.
I’m sorry that it did. I wonder why? Mine hasn’t smelled like that, so I’m trying to think what it could have been. Thank you though, for giving it a try!!
This was very good! I “cheated” and used the chicken from a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store! Much less prep involved and the seasoning on the chicken was perfect for this recipe. One question…this made a TON of food…can the leftovers be frozen and used at another time for a meal? I am not sure how the pasta would do once it thaws out and gets reheated. Has anyone tried freezing the leftovers? Thanks! Becky
Hey, that’s ok! I use that chicken sometimes, if I’m in a hurry! I haven’t tried freezing it, so I’m not sure how it would be. Hopefully, someone has and they’ll respond. Thanks so much for giving it a try!
I could not find the cheese blend with the cream cheese together. I saw in a previous comment you said 2 oz of the cream would be the right amount to add, should I add when I mix everything at the end before I bake it?
Going to make this tonight, can’t wait!
You could add it in step 8 with the cheese to the sauce mixture. Hope you like it!! Let me know what you think!
It was amazing, thank you for wonderful recipe!
Thank you so much for letting me know!!!
I made a double batch of this and froze half and it was fine when I defrosted it.
Thanks so much for sharing that!!
I made this tonight, and my sauce/cheese curdled. 🙁
What temp was your setting on the skillet? When you add the cheese, it should just be on low and only for the 5 min. I haven’t had any issues with it curdling before, so I’m trying to think of what could have made it do that. I’m thinking the setting may have been to high? Let me know!
Thyme (ground) or (leaves)???
Thanks.
I used ground Thyme:) Enjoy!!!