Chicken Alfredo Bake

Our Chicken Alfredo Bake feels warm and comforting, and remains light and full of delicious flavor. Protein-packed chicken bakes in a homemade Alfredo sauce made with a blend of cheeses, creamy half-and-half and aromatic onions and garlic. The sauce clings to the ridges in the whole-wheat penne while it bakes and is topped with more gooey, melty cheese. Garnish this crowd-pleasing casserole with fresh parsley for brightness and color. Keep reading for our expert tips on how to add even more flavor and nutrition to this dish, time-saving suggestions and more.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• Be sure you don’t overcook the pasta when boiling; you want it to be just al dente, as it will continue to cook after being assembled. Also, remember to save your pasta water! It helps bind the sauce to the pasta, resulting in a much creamier texture.
• To enhance the flavor of this casserole, consider adding ingredients such as mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes or crushed red pepper. Including spinach would also provide a nice earthy touch.
• To save on preparation time, we used a prepackaged, pre-shredded Italian cheese blend. However, shredding Asiago or Fontina cheese would also be a delicious option. 
• For the Parmesan, we recommend grating it by hand rather than using a pre-grated variety.

Nutrition Notes

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are the main protein source in this dish. Protein is essential for building and maintaining muscle mass, as well as for helping you feel fuller after a meal. Chicken also contains B vitamins to keep your metabolism working efficiently, and choline for brain health. Choosing skinless chicken ensures you keep your saturated fat intake low. 
• Choosing whole-wheat penne over regular pasta helps you get more fiber into your diet. Along with protein, fiber helps to slow digestion to keep you fuller for longer after a meal. Fiber is essential for good digestive health and for a healthy microbiome.
• Garlic is often overlooked as a healthy ingredient, but it’s high in antioxidant power. When you cut or crush garlic, like in this recipe, you release a compound called allicin, which has cancer-fighting and anti-inflammatory effects.