Description
Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bake – A creamy, crowd-pleasing pasta casserole with tender chicken, gooey cheese, and a rich sauce baked until bubbly and golden.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 12 oz macaroni (or any short pasta)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup optional add-ins (peas, spinach, broccoli, or mushrooms)
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil the macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Make the cheese sauce: In a large pot, melt butter and whisk in the flour. Cook 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk and chicken broth until smooth.
- Season: Stir in garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Add cheese: Mix in 1 cup mozzarella and all the cheddar until melted and creamy.
- Combine: Add cooked pasta, shredded chicken, and any veggies. Mix well to coat everything in sauce.
- Bake: Transfer to a greased 9×13 baking dish. Top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly golden.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley and dig into the cheesy goodness!
Notes
- For a lighter version, use part-skim milk and lower-fat cheese.
- Swap in vegetables like peas, spinach, broccoli, or mushrooms for extra color and nutrition.
- Use leftover or rotisserie chicken to save time.
- Let the bake rest for 5 minutes before serving to help the sauce set.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days; freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta, Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American-Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: Approximately 500 kcal per serving
- Sugar: Approximately 6 g
- Sodium: Approximately 700 mg
- Fat: Approximately 22 g
- Saturated Fat: Approximately 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approximately 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 60 g
- Fiber: Approximately 3 g
- Protein: Approximately 32 g
- Cholesterol: Approximately 120 mg
Keywords: Cheesy Chicken Pasta Bake, creamy chicken pasta, baked pasta with chicken, macaroni and cheese with chicken, weeknight dinner