Description
Home cooks adore this chicken alfredo casserole as a comforting classic pasta dish blending tender chicken, rich sauce, and melted cheese. Hearty portions guarantee satisfaction when you gather around the dinner table with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) penne pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 2.5 cups (590 ml) chopped rotisserie chicken
- 4 oz (113 g) pre-shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese (about 1 cup)
- 1 (6 oz/170 g) package fresh baby spinach, chopped
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) jar alfredo sauce
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) refrigerated pesto sauce
- ¼ cup (60 ml) chicken broth
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) thinly sliced fresh basil
- ¼ tsp paprika
Instructions
- Preheat Culinary Canvas: Warm the oven to 375°F, establishing an inviting atmosphere for gastronomic creation.
- Flavor Foundation: Blend spinach with pesto, ensuring each verdant leaf is thoroughly coated with aromatic essence.
- Sauce Symphony: Whisk Alfredo sauce and chicken broth into a silky, uniform mixture that promises rich undertones.
- Dish Preparation: Lightly spray baking dish and spread initial Alfredo layer, creating a creamy base for layering.
- Layering Technique: Construct alternating strata of spinach, chicken-pasta mixture, and Alfredo sauce, building complex flavor dimensions.
- Cheese Transformation: Generously scatter mozzarella across the casserole’s surface, allowing it to melt into a golden, bubbling crown.
- Final Flourish: Bake for 35 minutes until edges turn crisp and cheese becomes seductively molten, then garnish with fresh basil and a delicate paprika dusting.
Notes
- Prep Workspace Strategically: Preheat oven precisely to 375°F for consistent cooking and optimal flavor development.
- Layer Carefully: Create distinct, even layers to ensure balanced taste and texture throughout the casserole.
- Moisture Management: Use rotisserie chicken to maintain moisture and prevent dryness while adding rich, pre-cooked flavor.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Add mozzarella in the final minutes to achieve perfect golden-brown, bubbling surface without overcooking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg