Description
A warm, indulgent Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Bake made with tender chicken, rigatoni (or penne), and a rich garlic-parmesan cream sauce, finished with a bubbly golden mozzarella topping. Perfect for weeknights, leftovers, or feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
2 large chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
12 oz rigatoni or penne pasta
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
1. Boil a large pot of salted water and cook pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a deep skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Sauté until golden and cooked through. Set aside.
3. In the same skillet, melt butter. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Whisk in the parmesan until melted and smooth.
4. Return the cooked chicken to the sauce and stir in the pasta until everything is evenly coated.
5. Pour the mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
6. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
7. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly.
8. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve warm.
Notes
Cook pasta just to al dente so it doesn’t get mushy after baking.
For extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a handful of spinach when tossing pasta in the sauce.
Substitutions: Use chicken thighs instead of breasts, or swap half-and-half for a lighter sauce.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days. Reheat until hot and bubbly.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg