Description
A comforting and creamy baked pasta dish featuring tender chicken in a rich sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
- Add onion to the same skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Melt butter in the skillet. Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to form a roux.
- Gradually whisk in milk and heavy cream until smooth. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens.
- Stir in salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Add cooked chicken, cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese to the sauce. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta and the creamy chicken sauce.
- Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs and 1 tablespoon melted butter (optional). Sprinkle over the pasta.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly browned.
Notes
- You can add cooked vegetables like broccoli or peas to the dish.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Ensure the chicken is fully cooked before adding it to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: baked pasta, creamy chicken, chicken casserole, pasta bake, comfort food