Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake You’ll Love

A creamy chicken pasta bake is a warm and comforting meal that smells wonderful as it cooks and tastes rich and satisfying with soft pasta tender chicken and melted cheese. It is easy to make with simple ingredients which makes it perfect for busy days. The creamy sauce coats the chicken the pasta holds flavor well and the golden cheese on top adds the perfect finish. It tastes great on its own or with salad or warm bread and the recipe is easy to follow with clear steps tips and answers to common questions.

Ingredients for Needed

Here is everything you need for this creamy chicken pasta bake. All measurements are exact so you can follow the recipe precisely the first time and adjust it later if you like.

For the pasta and sauce

• 12 ounces uncooked penne pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 2 cups cooked chicken cut into bite size pieces
• 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

For topping

• 1 additional cup grated mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• Fresh parsley chopped for garnish

Step by Step Cooking Instruction

Cook the pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook until slightly firm. Drain well and set aside.

Prepare the flavorful base

Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook the onion until soft, then add garlic and cook for one minute until fragrant.

Add the chicken

Stir in the cooked chicken pieces. Mix well so they become lightly coated with the flavor of the onion and garlic. Allow the chicken to warm through for a minute or two.

Build the creamy sauce

Sprinkle the flour over the chicken and mix well. Slowly pour in the milk then add the broth and cream while stirring until smooth. Let the sauce simmer until it thickens. Season with salt pepper and Italian seasoning and cook until silky and creamy.

Add the cheeses

Once the sauce has thickened reduce the heat and stir in the grated cheddar and mozzarella. As the cheese melts it will transform the sauce into a smooth velvety mixture. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed. It should be creamy flavorful and well balanced.

Combine pasta and sauce

Pour the drained pasta into a large baking dish. Slowly pour the creamy chicken sauce over the pasta. Use a spoon to fold everything together until the pasta is evenly coated.

Add topping and bake

op the pasta with extra mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about twenty five minutes until golden and bubbly. Let it rest for five minutes before serving.

Tips for Customizing the Recipe

This creamy chicken pasta bake is very easy to customize. You can add chopped spinach or kale for freshness or sprinkle in red pepper flakes for a little heat. Peas peppers mushrooms or broccoli also work well if you want more vegetables. For a crunchy top you can add breadcrumbs mixed with a little olive oil. If you enjoy stronger cheese flavor try adding a bit of smoked gouda fontina or Monterey Jack.

Nutritional Information

These nutrition values are estimates based on six servings. Each serving has about 620 calories with 32 grams of protein 55 grams of carbohydrates 28 grams of fat and 820 milligrams of sodium. This dish is naturally rich and hearty but you can lower the calories a bit by using half and half instead of heavy cream or by reducing the cheese.

Serving Suggestions

This creamy chicken pasta bake is filling on its own but also goes well with a fresh green salad steamed broccoli roasted vegetables or warm garlic bread. If you are serving guests you can finish the meal with a light dessert like fruit salad or vanilla pudding to keep everything balanced and enjoyable.

Frequently Asked Questions