Chicken Alfredo Bake

$12.80 RECIPE / $2.13 SERVING

published Mar 1, 2023

4.55 from 20 votes

All recipes are rigorously tested in our Nashville test kitchen to ensure they are easy, affordable, and delicious.

This Chicken Alfredo Bake is the ultimate, crowd-pleasing casserole! This creamy and indulgent pasta bake will become one of your favorite dishes to prepare, too, because it’s super easy to make ahead and then assemble just before baking. Not to mention, it’s so cheesy and delicious that everyone will ask for seconds! (That’s right, no leftovers in sight!)

A golden brown chicken alfredo bake in a round, white enamel casserole dish on a wooden background surrounded by a yellow and gray striped dish towel in the bottom left, a wooden cutting board with shaved Parmesan cheese in the top left corner, a clove of garlic, sprigs of parsley, and small wooden bowl of breadcrumbs in the top right corner, and a small wooden bowl of uncooked pasta in the bottom right corner. The right side of the casserole has been stirred with a large wooden spoon that's resting in the dish.

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What is a chicken alfredo bake?

This Baked Chicken Alfredo is a fun spin on one of our most popular dinner recipes: Chicken Alfredo. We take the stovetop version of this dish to the next level by sending it on a trip to the oven…blanketed with seasoned breadcrumbs and tons of shredded cheese! (Because what could be better?!)

Ingredients & substitutions

Chicken: We used boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this recipe, but you could also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 2 cups of rotisserie chicken.
Alfredo Sauce: We made a double batch of our Homemade Alfredo Sauce (what we call an “Ameri-fredo sauce”) in the same skillet we used to cook the chicken. It can also be substituted with around 3 cups (or 24 oz.) of store-bought alfredo sauce. (But I promise, ours is better!)
Pasta: We used rotini in our pasta bake because it grabs onto that creamy sauce oh-so-well! Any medium-sized pasta like fusilli, penne, macaroni, or rigatoni works, too.
Frozen Vegetables: We added some frozen broccoli because the dish needed something fresh to balance out all the other rich ingredients. If you don’t like broccoli, try frozen peas, or a frozen vegetable mix (like ones with diced carrots, peas, and corn).
Buttered Breadcrumbs: Making buttery, seasoned breadcrumbs from scratch with panko will ensure the topping is as crispy and delicious as possible. Seasoning them yourself also gives you full control over the flavor. But they could be replaced with store-bought, seasoned Italian breadcrumbs or fresh breadcrumbs if desired.

MAKE AHEAD & AVOID LEFTOVERS

This is one of the dreamiest recipes of all time…but it isn’t quite as creamy and dreamy once reheated. For that reason, we suggest making a half batch instead of planning on a lot of leftovers. On the other hand, since every individual element of this recipe can be made ahead and kept in the fridge for up to 4 days, you could still make up the whole recipe and just bake it up at different times! Here’s how to prepare this pasta bake ahead of time:

Mix up the prepared chicken, cooked pasta, and thawed broccoli. Split the mixture into smaller portions. Store each serving in a glass container separately from the alfredo sauce. (If you want to mix the sauce in ahead of time, I guess you could — but it may soak into the cooked pasta over time.)
When you’re ready to bake up a serving, let it sit a room temperature for a few minutes (to slightly warm the glass dish), mix in the alfredo sauce, and top with cheese and breadcrumbs.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the center of the pasta bake reaches an internal temperature of 165℉, and the toppings achieve the same visual cues in the recipe).

I swear, y’all….this recipe is SUPER EASY to throw together. (Despite the long ingredient list and the number of steps!) It’s also a great blueprint for making just about any pasta bake you can dream up!

Chicken Alfredo Bake

4.55 from 20 votes

Transform stovetop chicken alfredo into a super-cheesy, decadent casserole with this Chicken Alfredo Bake recipe! It’s super easy to make (or make ahead!), and so delicious there won’t be any leftovers!

Author: Marion – Budget Bytes

Servings 6 1 cup each

Prep 15

Cook 1 10

Bake Time 30

Total 1 55

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Ingredients

Parmesan Chicken:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/3 lbs. total) ($3.89)
2 Tbsp olive oil, divided ($0.26)
1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese ($0.08)
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning ($0.05)
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes ($0.05)
1/2 tsp salt ($0.01)
1/2 tsp black pepper ($0.01)
3 Tbsp water ($0.00)

Buttered Breadcrumbs:

2 Tbsp butter ($0.30)
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs ($0.35)
1/4 tsp Italian seasoning ($0.03)
1/4 tsp garlic powder ($0.03)
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes ($0.03)
1/4 tsp salt ($0.01)
1/4 tsp black pepper ($0.01)

Alfredo Sauce/Pasta Bake:

4 Tbsp butter ($0.60)
4 cloves garlic, minced ($0.30)
2 cups heavy cream ($2.00)
2 cups Italian shredded cheese blend, divided ($2.49)
1/4 tsp Italian seasoning ($0.03)
1/4 tsp garlic powder ($0.03)
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes ($0.03)
1/4 tsp salt ($0.01)
1/4 tsp black pepper ($0.01)
8 oz. rotini, uncooked ($0.66)
10 oz. frozen broccoli florets ($1.49)

Instructions

Parmesan Chicken:

Cut the chicken breasts into 1” chunks. Coat the chicken with 1 tablespoons of oil and season it with the grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
Heat 1 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken until the bottom of each piece is brown and the sides start to turn white (about 5 minutes).
Add 3 tablespoons of water to the pan, releasing the chicken pieces from the bottom of the skillet, and flip each one. Continue cooking until the chicken is evenly browned on all sides and fully cooked in the center (about 5 minutes). Remove the chicken from the skillet, leaving behind any stuck-on bits of chicken to flavor the alfredo sauce.

Buttered Breadcrumbs:

Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Once the butter has completely melted, stir in the panko breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
Toast the breadcrumbs, stirring occasionally, until all the butter is absorbed and the breadcrumbs are toasted and golden but not brown (about 5 minutes).
Transfer the breadcrumbs to a bowl to stop the cooking process and set them aside to cool.

Alfredo Sauce:

Melt the butter over medium heat in the same large skillet used to cook the chicken (without wiping it out). Add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 2 minutes).
Whisk in the heavy cream, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Let it come up to a boil, stirring occasionally (about 5 minutes).
Turn the heat down to low, and add 1.5 cups of shredded cheese a handful at a time, whisking until the cheese is fully melted before adding more (about 5 minutes). The alfredo sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.

Assembly:

Preheat the oven to 375℉. Thaw the frozen broccoli in a colander, breaking down any large florets into bite-size pieces. Set aside.
At the same time, boil a large pot of water on high heat. Once the water is rapidly boiling, add the rotini and cook until it is just tender (about 7 minutes). Do not overcook the pasta, as it will soften further in the oven. Drain the pasta in a colander and set aside.
Mix together the cooked chicken, cooked pasta, thawed broccoli, and alfredo sauce in a casserole dish. Top the casserole with ½ cup of shredded cheese and the toasted breadcrumbs.
Bake the casserole until all the cheese is melted and the breadcrumbs are golden brown (about 25-30 minutes).

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Equipment

Stainless Steel Pots and Pans
Whisk
Glass Casserole Dish

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 829kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 40gFat: 58gSodium: 760mgFiber: 3g

Read our full nutrition disclaimer here.

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A side shot of a chicken alfredo bake with broccoli in a round, white enamel cast iron baking dish with a black rim. A wooden serving spoon is lifting out a heaping spoonful of the pasta slightly above the casserole dish. There is a yellow and gray striped dish cloth slightly visible in the bottom left side of the image, and blurred in the background are a black bowl of uncooked pasta and a bunch of Italian parsley.

How to Make Chicken Alfredo Bake – Step by Step Photos

A white bowl of uncooked chicken breast chunks seasoned with grated Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. The bowl is sitting on a marble background.

Cut 2 chicken breasts into 1” chunks. Combine 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Coat the chunks of chicken in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and then toss them in the seasoning mixture.

A large stainless steel skillet is sitting on a white marble background. In the skillet are chunks of cooked chicken breast and some olive oil.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Saute the chicken until the bottom of each piece is brown and the sides start to turn white (About 10 minutes). Add 3 tablespoons of water to release the chicken from the skillet, and flip each piece. Continue cooking the chicken until cooked through and no pink remains (About 5 minutes). Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside to cool. Also, reserve the pan (without wiping it out!) to use when cooking the alfredo sauce.

A stainless steel skillet filled with toasted, seasoned Panko breadcrumbs sitting on a white marble background.

While the chicken is cooking, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Once the butter has completely melted, stir in 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs, 1/4 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Toast the breadcrumbs, stirring occasionally, until all the butter is absorbed and the breadcrumbs are toasted and golden but not brown. (About 7 minutes.) Set aside to cool.

A large stainless steel skillet on a background of white marble. The skillet is covered with fond after cooking chicken and there is a chunk of unmelted butter in the center and a pile of minced garlic.

In the same large skillet used to cook the chicken (without wiping it out), melt 4 tablespoons of butter on medium heat. Add the minced garlic and saute until fragrant. (About 2 minutes.) Use a metal whisk to scrape up the stuck bits of chicken and seasonings left behind in the pan as you cook the garlic, which will infuse the alfredo sauce with tons of flavor!

A large stainless steel skillet with butter and sautéed garlic, and heavy cream being poured from a glass measuring cup into the skillet from the left side of the pan.

Whisk in 2 cups of heavy cream. Then add 1/4 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Let the cream come up to a boil, stirring occasionally. (About 5 minutes.)

A large stainless steel skillet filled with heavy cream mixed with sautéed garlic, butter and seasonings. Grated parmesan cheese is sprinkled across the top of the heavy cream mixture from a small white bowl by a hand hovering over the bottom right side of the skillet.

Turn the heat down to low, and add 1½ cups of shredded cheese a handful at a time, whisking until the cheese is fully melted. (About 5 minutes.)

A large stainless steel skillet on a white marble background. The skillet is filled with a finished homemade alfredo sauce, and a hand in visible in the bottom right of the image and is stirring the mixture with a metal balloon whisk.

The alfredo sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.

A medium-size stainless steel pot filled with cloudy pasta water and cooked rotini. A wooden spoon with a gray, silicon spoon is being held above the pot to show that the pasta is fully cooked. The pot is sitting on a white marble backdrop.

Preheat the oven to 375℉. Thaw the frozen broccoli in a colander, breaking down any large florets into bite-size pieces. At the same time, boil a large pot of water on high heat. Once the water is rapidly boiling, add the rotini and cook until it is just tender. (About 7 minutes). Do not overcook the pasta, as it will soften further in the oven. Set the cooked pasta and broccoli aside.

A circular, white enamel cast iron with a black rim sitting on a marble background. The casserole dish is filled with a mixture of cooked pasta, cooked chunks of seasoned chicken breast, and broccoli florets. Homemade alfredo sauce is being poured over the mixture from a stainless steel skillet raised above the casserole from the left side of the frame.

Mix together the cooked chicken, cooked pasta, and thawed broccoli in a casserole dish. Pour over the alfredo sauce and stir well.

A round, white enamel cast iron baking dish with a black rim is sitting on a white marble background. The baking dish is filled with a mixture of cooked pasta, broccoli florets, cooked chunks of chicken breast and alfredo sauce. A hand in the lower right corner of the casserole dish is sprinkling toasted breadcrumbs over the pasta bake.

Top the casserole with ½ cup of shredded Italian cheese and then sprinkle over 1/2 cup of buttered breadcrumbs.

A chicken alfredo bake with broccoli topped with melted cheese and golden brown toasted breadcrumbs in a round, white enamel baking dish with a black rim that's sitting on a white, marble background.

Bake the casserole until all the cheese is melted and the breadcrumbs are golden brown (About 25-30 minutes).

I’m craving this meal again — just LOOKING at it! ~Marion :)

Marion KirkpatrickMarion Kirkpatrick is an Associate Food Editor at Budget Bytes and a “professional home cook.” She brings nearly a decade of digital media and content management experience to the team — as well as some time spent in a professional kitchen! She studied Journalism & Electronic Media at The University of Tennessee Knoxville and lives in Nashville (her hometown) in a cute little house with her family. In her spare time, she loves hosting dinner parties, hanging out in the backyard with her daughter, and going to rock shows with her husband (who’s also in a band!).More About Marion

Chicken Alfredo Bake

What is a chicken alfredo bake?

Ingredients & substitutions

MAKE AHEAD & AVOID LEFTOVERS