Description
Creamy chicken and broccoli baked alfredo brings comfort straight from Italian kitchens to your dinner table. Melted cheese, tender chicken, and crisp broccoli combine in a rich sauce that promises delicious satisfaction for hearty meal seekers.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 rotisserie chicken, shredded
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, hand shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 1 pound rigatoni
- 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets
Seasonings and Sauce:
- 2 cups Alfredo sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a moderate temperature of 350°F, preparing for a comforting casserole creation.
- Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil, then immerse pasta and cook until approaching al dente texture.
- During the final cooking minutes, introduce chopped broccoli florets directly into the pasta water, allowing them to become tender-crisp.
- Carefully drain the pasta and broccoli mixture, ensuring minimal moisture remains.
- Transfer the drained ingredients to a spacious rectangular baking dish, creating a foundation for the creamy ensemble.
- Incorporate tender, shredded chicken throughout the pasta and broccoli mixture.
- Generously coat the ingredients with rich Alfredo sauce, ensuring complete coverage.
- Season the dish with a balanced blend of salt, freshly cracked pepper, and aromatic garlic powder, stirring to distribute flavors evenly.
- Sprinkle a luxurious layer of Parmesan and mozzarella cheese across the surface, creating a golden, melting topping.
- Place the uncovered dish into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes, allowing the cheese to transform into a bubbling, golden crust.
- Remove from the oven and permit the casserole to rest briefly, allowing flavors to settle and sauce to slightly thicken before serving.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Slightly undercook pasta during boiling to prevent overcooking when baking, ensuring a perfectly tender texture.
- Broccoli Brilliance: Cut broccoli into uniform, bite-sized pieces for even cooking and consistent flavor distribution throughout the dish.
- Cheese Customization: Experiment with different cheese blends like sharp cheddar or gruyère to add unique depth and richness to the classic Alfredo.
- Protein Flexibility: Easily swap chicken with leftover turkey, shredded rotisserie chicken, or plant-based alternatives like tofu for dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg