ARTICLE DETAIL

Chicken Alfredo Pesto Pasta

Name: Chicken Pesto Alfredo Pasta
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter; 1/4 cup flour; 3 tbsp creole seasoning; 2 cups chicken broth; 16 oz penne pasta; 4 cups cooked chicken (cubed); 2 cups mozzarella cheese (freshly shredded); 2 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan Cheese (freshly shredded); 3 cups fresh baby spinach; 15 oz can crushed tomatoes; 1 small yellow onion diced; 1 cup milk; 1/2 cup half & half; 3 tbsp basil pesto (Click on pesto for a homemade recipe); 3/4 cup crispy bacon- chopped; 6 mini packs of ritz crackers; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 cup & 3 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)

Chicken Pesto Alfredo Pasta

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

This baked chicken pesto alfredo frezzer meal has chicken pesto, bacon, cheese, fresh spinach and tomatoes all mixed together in a delicious white sauce that comes together and blow your socks away.

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
3 tbsp creole seasoning
2 cups chicken broth
16 oz penne pasta
4 cups cooked chicken (cubed)
2 cups mozzarella cheese (freshly shredded)
2 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan Cheese (freshly shredded)
3 cups fresh baby spinach
15 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 small yellow onion diced
1 cup milk
1/2 cup half & half
3 tbsp basil pesto (Click on pesto for a homemade recipe)
3/4 cup crispy bacon- chopped
6 mini packs of ritz crackers
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup & 3 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)

Instructions

1. Make simple white sauce by melting butter in a pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 1-2 minutes. Then sprinkle in flour over melted butter slowly and whisk constantly for 3-4 minutes over medium heat. Now add in chicken broth and whisk quickly together. Add creole seasoning. Cook over medium heat until it is thick and bubbles up.
2. Cook penne pasta al dente. Drain noodles and then dump into a large mixing bowl.
3. Add in white sauce, cooked chicken, 2 cups mozzarella, 2 cups Parmesan cheese, spinach, crushed tomatoes, milk, half & half, pesto and 1/2 cup of bacon. Mix well.
4. Pour pasta into a 5 quart (11x15) baking dish.
Topping
1. In a food processor grind up all 6 packs of ritz crackers.
2. Pour ground ritz crackers, remaining parmesan cheese, remaining bacon, and melted butter.
3. Spread Ritz cracker mixture on top of casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes depending on your oven.
Want to freeze instead
1. Instead of baking wrap in two layers of foil, label and freeze. Thaw, remove foil and bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes depending on your oven.

Notes

If you are not one that likes all of the seasoning you are more than welcome to substitute the creole seasoning for pink Himalayan salt or whichever you prefer.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

6
Amount Per Serving Calories 894Total Fat 56gSaturated Fat 27gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 25gCholesterol 196mgSodium 3264mgCarbohydrates 42gFiber 4gSugar 9gProtein 56g