Dump and Bake Chicken Alfredo Casserole

I came up with this Dump and Bake Chicken Alfredo Casserole on a weeknight when I had absolutely no energy to cook but still wanted to eat something homemade. I threw it all into a dish and crossed my fingers, and I was amazed by how rich and creamy it was.

Since then it has become my wedging-in-between-glute-training-and-lengthening-into-a-new-moon go-to for hectic nights, lazy Sunday afternoons and whatever anytime I need something easy and crowd-pleasing for everyone in the house. It has all the warm flavors of a classic Alfredo, but without the added pots and pans, or effort.

We cherish my Creamy Greek Yogurt Alfredo Pasta Sauce or this Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli And Rice Casserole for additional simple dinner suggestions.

A serving plate with the casserole dish behind it.

Why You'll Love this recipe

Convenience: i really love this recipe because of its convenience, it is a really one-dish meal, and it doesn't require any boiling.The entire meal can be made in a casserole and throw it in the oven to be baked. That's it!
Hearty: This dish is also packed with flavors and proteins, from the chicken and the alfredo sauce.
Crowd-pleaser: You can throw just about anything in this recipe and be sure to be a hit among your family! from the chicken to the broccoli to the mushrooms, this dish does deliver!

This Quick And Easy Dump And Bake Meatball Casserole is one of my family's favorite dinners ever and is a crockpot dump and go meal.

Main Ingredients

This basic dish calls for only a few ingredients. Here are the major items you'll need:

Pasta – You can use any kind of pasta of your choice, from penne pasta, to rotini, to farfalle shape. and there is no boiling required.
Homemade Alfredo Sauce – you can use the store bought version of this sauce, aprox. 2 jars, or you can make your own like i did in this recipe! I much prefer the homemade version because of its freshness, cheesy and creamy texture.
Chicken Stock or Broth – you can use about 1 ½ cup of chicken broth. You can opt for the full salted one because we are not going to pre-boil the pasta in salted water, so it might need some salt to balance it out!
Shredded Chicken – for the best results, i recommand you to use only skinless and boneless chicken breasts.
Mozzarella Cheese - you can choose to use several types of cheese in this recipe at the same time, but for my preference i only opted out for the mozzarella.
Broccoli. I used one whole head of fresh broccoli. It is more than enough for this dish.
Italian Seasoning.
Garlic Powder. for more savory flavors.
Kosher Salt, Black Pepper.

How To Make Chicken Alfredo Casserole (Dump and Bake Style)

Preheat your oven to 375-425F.

Prepare a baking dish, i used my procelaine pyrex baking dish, and dump in your uncooked farfalle pasta, the alfredo sauce, the chicken broth, the chicken and the veggies alongside the seasonings and mix very gently until well combined together.

A casserole dish with all the ingredients inside of it.

Once everything is well-combined, give it a gentle shake, and cover it with foil and throw it in the oven for 40 minutes. Check your pasta when it is halfway the cooking time and put it back in the oven.

Process images showing how to make this recipe.

When the cooking is almost done, take back your baking dish out of the oven and sprinkle on top your freshly grated mozzarella cheese and put it back for a few minutes to give it that melty, cheesy top layer.

Variations and Substitutions

Raw Chicken: you can use raw chicken instead of the cooked one, or the shredded chicken, but this is going to require some preparation beforehand. You can dice it and cook it in a pan or cook the chicken breast as a whole and shred it with two forks.
Pasta: Any kind of short pasta shape will do the trick here, i used the farfalle shape for my recipe, but you can substitute it with penne, elbows, or rotini.
Cheese: you can change the mozzarella cheese with some good cheddar cheese or gruyere one, or you can opt for the italian blend of shredded cheese.
Breadcrumbs: you can add some breadcrumbs on top for an extra crunchy texture.
Make it gluten-free: Substitute the regular pasta with the gluten-free one and also you need to change the alfredo sauce with the gluten-free version.

Make-Ahead and Store Leftovers

Make-ahead - you can make this recipe beforehand and i really recommand doing so! get all your ingredients together the night before in your baking dish, and you just have to pop it in the oven when it is dinnertime.

Store - This casserole dish is better served and consumed fresh and straight out of the oven. But if you do have leftovers you can store them in an airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Note that after that the pasta might be too dry and you need to add some liquid to it, you can stir in some alfredo sauce or full fat milk and reheat it in the oven or the microwave.

Freeze - For this specific recipe i will not recommand you to freeze it in the freezer.

Serving Suggestions

Garlic Bread - This is oviously the best way to serve your alfredo casserole, and my favorite one too!
Caesar Salad - You can serve this chicken alfredo casserole with some salad. You just can't go wrong with this combination.
Fluffy Breadsticks - you can make your own ones or just use the store bought version!

Recipe Pro Tips

You might need a bigger jar of alfredo sauce, the smaller ones not gonna cut it! opt for the 22-ounce jars, or you can opt out for two 15-ounce ones.
The total cooking will vary from person to person depending on your oven type and depending on the type of pasta you are using. Ceramic baking dish like the one i used usually takes longer cooking times than the metalic ones.
Cover with foil. covering the baking is mandatory! and will ensure that the pasta cooks and gets tender and softer, otherwise it will dry and burn!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you bake chicken alfredo?

Definitely Yes! this is the best way to cook it though!

What pasta goes with chicken alfredo?

every short form pasta can make it! from penne, rigatoni, rotini, to elbows! you name it!

What type of chicken works best?

cooked chicken breast goes perfect! rotisserie chicken also works just fine! and also shredded chicken.

Can I add some vegetables to this?

Yes! in this recipe i used fresh broccoli, and you can use your own variation, like mushrooms and spinach.

If you tried this Dump and Bake Chicken Alfredo Casserole or any other recipe on my website, please feel free to leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. And remember to tag me on Instagram!

Dump and Bake Chicken Alfredo Casserole