Description
A comforting, one-dish weeknight dinner featuring penne pasta, rotisserie chicken, and a rich garlic parmesan sauce, baked to golden perfection in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound penne or rigatoni
- 2–3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken (about 300-400g)
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Optional: 2 cups fresh spinach
- Optional: 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta for 2 minutes less than package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside (do not rinse).
- While pasta boils, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for 30-60 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 1 minute to deglaze the pan.
- Reduce heat to low, stir in heavy cream and Italian seasoning, and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Remove skillet from heat. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted. If too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
- Fold in shredded chicken, drained pasta, and optional spinach until combined.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Pour mixture into the baking dish and spread evenly. Top with mozzarella if using.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until sauce is bubbling and cheese is golden brown.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to thicken.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of pre-grated to ensure smooth melting. Do not overcook the pasta initially as it will finish cooking in the oven. If the sauce splits, ensure the cream is added to warm (not boiling) broth and remove from heat before adding cheese. Leftovers can be frozen unbaked for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: chicken pasta bake, creamy garlic parmesan, weeknight dinner, one pot meal, rotisserie chicken recipes, easy pasta, comfort food