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This Chicken Pasta Bake with Garlic Cream and Parmesan hits the spot when you want comfort food. It brings together perfectly cooked rotini pasta, tender chicken pieces and a rich garlic-parmesan cream sauce, all baked until golden brown. It's a cheese-loaded, hearty dish that's perfect for family dinners or cozy get-togethers.
What You'll Love About This Dish
Everyone in your family will fall for the creamy, cheesy layers in this pasta bake. You won't spend hours making it, it needs basic ingredients, and you can easily throw in extras like veggies or extra herbs if you want. The crispy, golden top makes this comforting dish look fancy too.
What You'll Need
- Rotini Pasta: 450g, cooked until just firm with 240ml cooking water saved.
- Cooked Chicken: 700g, chopped or shredded.
- Alfredo Sauce: 2 jars (425g each), thick and creamy.
- Garlic Parmesan Sauce: 240ml, for extra flavor punch.
- Mozzarella: 200g, shredded for that stretchy goodness.
- Parmesan: 50g, grated for more flavor.
- Salt and Black Pepper: ½ teaspoon and ¼ teaspoon.
- Fresh Parsley: Optional, chopped for topping.
How To Make It
- Get Your Oven Ready
- Turn your oven to 190°C and lightly grease a 33x23 cm baking dish.
- Mix Everything Together
- In a big bowl, stir together pasta, chicken, Alfredo sauce, garlic parmesan sauce, half the mozzarella and half the parmesan. Add salt and pepper. If it seems dry, splash in some pasta water.
- Put It All Together
- Pour the mixture into your dish and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella and parmesan on top.
- Bake It Up
- Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes until it's bubbling. Then uncover and brown the top for 2-3 minutes.
- Time To Eat
- Let it sit for 5 minutes, then sprinkle with fresh parsley. Serve while hot.
Tips For Best Results
Grab fresh-grated parmesan for deeper flavor. Want a shortcut? Use store-bought rotisserie chicken. For an extra crunchy top, mix some breadcrumbs with melted butter before broiling.
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Storing Leftovers
Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 3 days. When you want more, warm single portions in the microwave or heat them in the oven at 175°C until they're hot throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can this bake be made ahead of time?
- You can assemble it up to a day early and store it in the fridge. Add 10–15 minutes to the cooking time if baking straight from cold.
- → What type of pasta works best?
- Rotini is great since it holds the sauce well. Penne, farfalle, or fusilli are also good options for their sauce-gripping shape.
- → How do you reheat leftovers?
- Cover with foil and reheat in the oven at 160°C for 15–20 minutes. Add a splash of cream or milk if it's a bit dry.
- → Can this dish be frozen?
- Yes, it freezes nicely for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake. The texture may change a bit but still tastes great.
- → How do I make this lighter?
- Go for whole-grain pasta, light Alfredo sauce, and use less cheese. Add more veggies like spinach or broccoli to balance it out.