Chicken Alfredo Casserole (Printable)

Tender chicken, silky Alfredo sauce, and gooey mozzarella in a rich, creamy baked pasta dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or ziti pasta

→ Chicken

02 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded

→ Sauce

03 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 cups heavy cream
06 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

→ Cheese Topping

10 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Garnish

11 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Add Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir until cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
05 - Add cooked chicken and drained pasta to the sauce. Mix well to coat evenly.
06 - Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Top evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese.
07 - Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling and golden brown.
08 - Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like restaurant-quality comfort food but comes together in under an hour.
  • The leftovers somehow get even better after a night in the fridge.
  • You can sneak in vegetables without anyone complaining.
  • It feeds a crowd and makes your kitchen smell like an Italian grandmother lives there.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time after baking or the sauce will run all over the plate.
  • If the top browns too fast, tent it loosely with foil for the last 10 minutes.
  • Undercook the pasta slightly, it absorbs liquid as it bakes and you don't want it mushy.
03 -
  • Use a block of good Parmesan and grate it fresh, the flavor is incomparably better.
  • If your sauce looks too thick, whisk in a splash of pasta water before adding the chicken.
  • Let the casserole sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before baking so it heats evenly.
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