Description
Chicken and Asparagus Pasta Bake combines tender chicken, fresh asparagus, and creamy cheese sauce into one bubbly casserole dish. Your oven does most of the work while you relax with your family.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, cubed
- 2 cups fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Cook pasta according to package directions until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces and steam for 3 minutes until bright green but still crisp. Drain and set aside with pasta.
3. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Sprinkle in flour and whisk constantly for 2 minutes to create a roux.
4. Slowly pour in chicken broth while whisking to prevent lumps. Add heavy cream and bring to gentle simmer. Cook for 5 minutes until sauce thickens.
5. Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Keep stirring until cheese melts completely. Taste and adjust seasonings.
6. Mix cooked pasta, asparagus, and cubed chicken in prepared baking dish. Pour cream sauce over everything and stir gently to coat. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
7. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until cheese bubbles and turns golden brown. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Always cook pasta one minute less than package directions when making baked pasta. It finishes cooking in the oven.
Let the sauce simmer until it thickens before mixing with pasta. Thin sauce makes watery casseroles.
Use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken to cut prep time in half.
Assemble the entire casserole up to 24 hours ahead without baking. Cover and refrigerate until dinner time.
Store covered in refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American