About
When Italian food is what you're longing for, this cheesy surprise of a dish will surely hit the spot! Pesto Chicken Alfredo Bake takes the chicken alfredo you love and kicks it up a notch! Bouncy penne pasta, juicy chicken, a blend of Italian cheeses, and rich parmesan cheese do a little meet-and-greet in the oven with some zesty pesto, fresh baby spinach, and crushed tomatoes for a whole new take on the pasta you love. This alfredo sauce will make you pretty excited, so try Pesto Chicken Alfredo Bake and get a little zing back in your pasta step. You are going to love it!
Ingredients
- For the pasta:
- 1 (16-ounce) package penne pasta
- 2 cups chicken, cooked and cubed
- 2 cups Italian cheese blend, shredded, divided
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- For the alfredo sauce:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1 (8.1-ounce) jar prepared pesto
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- For the breadcrumb topping:
- 1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Directions
Step 1 -Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 -Lightly coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Step 3 -In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the penne to al dente, according to the package directions.
Step 4 -Drain the water from the penne and cover the pot to keep warm.
Step 5 -In a large bowl, add the chicken, 1 cup of the Italian cheese blend, the baby spinach, and the tomatoes and stir to combine. Set it aside.
Step 6 -In a large saucepan over medium heat, add the butter, the heavy whipping cream, and the cream cheese and cook, whisking constantly, until the butter and the cream cheese have melted.
Step 7 -Add the pesto to the sauce mixture and stir to combine.
Step 8 -Add the minced garlic, the garlic powder, the Italian seasoning, the salt, and the black pepper to the sauce mixture and whisk until it is smooth.
Step 9 -Add 1 cup of the parmesan cheese to the sauce mixture and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce starts to thicken, about 3-5 minutes.
Step 10 -Add the cooked penne and the sauce to the chicken mixture and toss to coat.
Step 11 -Evenly pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the top with the remaining Italian cheese blend.
Step 12 -In a small bowl, add the breadcrumbs, the remaining parmesan cheese, and the olive oil and stir to combine.
Step 13 -Evenly sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the pasta bake.
Step 14 -Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake the pasta bake until it is heated through and bubbling on the sides, about 30-40 minutes.
Step 15 -Serve.
