This creamy, cheesy chicken Alfredo pasta bake with bacon is an easy casserole that even the pickiest eaters will fall for. A perfectly silky Alfredo sauce, tender pieces of chicken, mozzarella cheese, and crispy bacon make this perfect hearty fall fare.
Making everyone happy at dinnertime is, for the most part, an impossible dream in my house. But this chicken Alfredo pasta bake is as close as it gets. It’s creamy, cheesy, bacony perfection!
You can feel free to add some vegetables if you like. Frozen peas, carrots, or corn would work well. Cooked broccoli or bell pepper would be terrific too. You can also serve this with a salad or green vegetable on the side.
Can chicken Alfredo pasta bake be made ahead?
Yes! Like most casseroles, you can assemble it ahead of time, refrigerate it, and pop it in the oven for about 30 minutes for a super quick, easy, and satisfying weeknight meal.
You can also use leftover chicken in this casserole, or a shredded rotisserie chicken from the grocery store.
Store bought jarred Alfredo sauce also works fine, although this homemade Alfredo sauce is to die for, and probably a lot faster and easier to make than you think!
How to make a Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake with Bacon:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with olive oil.
2. Make the Alfredo sauce. See this post for detailed instructions. You will need one full recipe (or 3 cups of store bought jarred sauce).
3. Chop up the bacon and cook in a large skillet. Set aside to drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Pour out all but two tablespoons of the bacon grease.
4. Cut the chicken breasts into 1/2 inch pieces. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Over medium heat, cook the chicken breast in the bacon grease until browned and just cooked through.
5. While the bacon and chicken are cooking, boil 3/4 lb of pasta shapes (rotini or penne work well) according to package directions.
6. Return the cooked pasta to the pot and pour in the Alfredo sauce.7. Add the chicken and 2/3 of the bacon and stir to combine.
8. Spread half the pasta mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half the mozzarella over the pasta.
9. Spread the remaining pasta over the mozzarella and sprinkle on the rest of the mozzarella and bacon.
10. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 5-10 minutes until the cheese is lightly golden.
Sprinkle with chopped parsley if you like, and serve immediately!
Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake with Bacon
Ingredients
- 3 cups Alfredo sauce (1 recipe)
- 8 slices bacon chopped
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into 1/2 inch pieces (2 large or 3 smaller chicken breasts)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3/4 lb pasta shapes such as rotini or penne
- 2 cups mozzarella shredded
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with olive oil.
- Make the Alfredo sauce (see recipe link in notes).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta shapes and cook to al dente, according to the package directions. Drain and return the pasta to the pot.
- While the pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the chopped bacon and cook until browned and crispy. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Pour out all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.
- Return the pan to medium heat, and add the cubed chicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally until browned and just cooked through. Remove from heat.
- Pour the Alfredo sauce into the pot with the pasta and add the chicken and 2/3 of the bacon. Stir to combine. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Spread half of the pasta mixture in to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella. Cover with the remaining pasta mixture and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and bacon over the top.*
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until the cheese starts to brown. Sprinkle with parsley if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
Hi! I’m Ann and I blog at Our Happy Mess. I’m all about fast, fresh, and family-friendly recipes. I believe cooking from scratch can not only be doable but FUN, no matter how busy life gets!
You can find more of my recipes at Our Happy Mess.
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