I really need to make more dishes like this one! It was so easy, its seriously tasty and my whole family LOVED it! This Chicken & Bacon Penne Alfredo Casserole comes together so quickly and can be made a day or two ahead of time making it the PERFECT dinner for any night of the week. Plus- BACON- period.
Today is a really fun day… its our Freaky Friday Winter recipe swap! A bunch of my fabulously talented blogger friends and I get assigned a blog to choose a recipe from then create and share with our readers. We don’t find out who we’ve been assigned until today! I was lucky enough to be assigned the incredible Lori from Who Needs A Cape?. Her recipes are always easy and so delicious! When I saw her recipe for this Chicken & Bacon Penne Alfredo Casserole I knew I needed to make it!
When it comes to cold weather cooking I really do cook up more hearty comfort meals than I typically do in the warmer months. While browsing through recipe on Who Needs A Cape? there certainly was no shortage of amazing comfort meals! Some of the recipes I was really drawn to were Taco Spaghetti, Cheesy Chicken, Artichoke & Rice Casserole, Easy Pepperoni Pizza Sliders and this Loaded Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Dip. Lori is a real talent in the kitchen, a great blogging friend and momma to a beautiful big family.
To say life has been hectic and non stop lately would be a huge understatement! We are always on the run and as I’ve mentioned in a previous post also dealing with the health issues of my mother in law. Dinners lately have had to be really easy, quick and ones that all of us would enjoy. Thats why I chose this Chicken & Bacon Penne Alfredo Casserole. A no complicated ingredient list and it comes together easy peasy! Oh a little bonus is you can totally make it ahead of time then pop in the oven to warm up.
Chicken, bacon, cheese, pasta… what’s not to love? My only cheat was using chicken breasts off a rotisserie chicken I picked up at the store. In Lori’s original recipe show starts with fresh chicken and sautés it in a pan. Either way- this dish is a winner!!! The great thing about casseroles is they are so easy and versatile and make for a perfect meal for a crowd.
Penne pasta gets cooked to al dente, drained and tossed with your favorite jarred alfredo sauce. From there, in a baking dish you start with half the pasta, layer on some chopped cooked chicken, shredded mozzarella and crisp bacon. Repeat one more time and its ready to pop in the oven! Its that simple!
How fantastic right?!?! My family devoured this, I was just glad there was some leftover to enjoy again the next day! The smokey bacon goodness really adds incredible flavor to the whole dish {FYI I totally added extra bacon in there}.
- 12 oz Penne pasta
- 1 lb chicken breasts, cut into 1" chunks OR 2 breasts from a rotisserie chicken
- 2 T olive oil
- 1 16 oz jar alfredo Sauce
- ½ cup cooked bacon, crumbled {extra if you'd like}
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella
- Salt & pepper to taste
- fresh chopped parsley
- Preheat oven to 375° degrees.
- Cook pasta according to al dente package directions, drain and set aside.
- Over medium-high heat in non-stick pan, saute chicken in olive oil. Brown on all sides, approximately 5-7 minutes. If using breasts from a rotisserie chicken - skip this step.
- Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Mix pasta and Alfredo sauce together.
- Spread about ½ of the pasta into the baking dish. Next layer on top: chicken, ½ of the bacon and ½ of the cheese. Spread remaining pasta on top and finish with remaining bacon and cheese.
- Bake 15-20 minutes until heated through.
- Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley if desired.
Please be sure to stop on by all the amazing other blogs to check out the sweet treats they are sharing today!
- An Affair from the Heart – Coconut Mug Cake
- Aunt Bee’s Recipes – Creamy Gorgonzola Pasta with Steak
- Bowl Me Over – Best Crock Pot Beef Stew
- Hostess at Heart – Chili Con Carne
- Kylee Cooks – Banana Cream Parfait
- LeMoine Family Kitchen – Chicken Bacon Penne Alfredo Casserole
- Lemon Blossoms – Valentine’s Day Dessert Nachos
- Mildly Meandering – Tiramisu Latte
- House of Nash Eats – Philly Cheese Steak Dip
- Seduction in the Kitchen – Chicken Lime Soup
- Take Two Tapas – Taco Tater Tots
- The Foodie Affair – Slow Cooked Meatballs
- The Speckled Palate – Boozy Bacon Pretzel Peanut Butter Bars
- West Via Midwest – Corned Beef and Cabbage Soup
- Who Needs a Cape? – Cajun Chicken Meatballs in Cajun Cream Sauce
Deb
Extra bacon? You’re a gal after my own heart! This looks just delicious, what a wonderful weeknight meal – definitely making this for dinner this weekend – YUM!!!
Michaela Kenkel
This looks so delicious!! My family will go bonkers for this one I am certain!!
Julie Menghini
I love everything about this recipe! We love casseroles and chicken and bacon together is a win win!
Kathy
This pasta dish looks amazing! I know my family would love it!
Angela LeMoine
Thank you! My family certainly enjoyed it and I especially love how easy it is!
Sandra
This is a great recipe to make in advance for a neighbor or new mom and her family. Super delicious with that Alfredo sauce!
Angela LeMoine
Oh I really love that idea!!! This would be absolutely perfect for that
Amy Nash
I love a good casserole and this one looks absolutely amazing! I love the bacon in it and that I can just use a rotisserie chicken. This is a perfect weeknight meal.
Angela LeMoine
Its a winner for sure! I think you’ll enjoy it too!
Kylee from Kylee Cooks
You had me at bacon, naturally! This looks like something my whole family would enjoy, or I could take it to a party knowing it would be gone in seconds!!
Angela LeMoine
Haha you and me both!! Hence my large up on the bacon used in this recipe. Its so so good though!
michele
Nothing beats a good comfort food casserole and in my family we devour them! Needless to say this is right up our alley!
Angela LeMoine
Totally agree!! Its so simple and so good! Great for the busiest of nights!
Brandi
This is the most family friendly, comfort food casserole EVER! We LOVE Alfredo!!!
Angela LeMoine
Right?? Its so easy to throw together and so so delicious!!! A huge winner in my house!
Madi
I can’t wait to try making this! I just love anything with alfredo!
Lori Vachon
You certainly chose a winner Angela! Have to be honest, when I make this I usually use leftover chicken or rotisserie also…life gets busy! Glad you enjoyed!
Angela LeMoine
Thank YOU for the fantastic easy recipe!! My boys absolutely LOVED it! Will be making it again very soon!
Jane
I do make this but without the bacon…I cheat..Trader Joe’s and my local Italian store sell a great Alfredo sauce…must try this with the bacon! You motivate me!
Angela LeMoine
Awesome!! The bacon really adds such a nice smokey flavor! I just love it.
Erin Parker
I have been hunting for a recipe that’s creamy, comforting goodness, and the fact that this casserole calls for pasta, chicken, bacon AND alfredo? SWOON. Now if I can scrounge up all the ingredients for dinner tonight, I’ll be set!
Angela LeMoine
Oh yay!! This recipe is so simple and so delicious! I know you will love it as much as we did!
Jennifer A Stewart
This is the epitome of comfort food. I made this for Connor and I this weekend and there isn’t any left!
Angela LeMoine
It really is that good right? So simple to throw together too which I LOVE!
Deanna
You had me with bacon!! This dish looks so yummy!!!
Angela LeMoine
You and me both! Bacon makes everything that much tastier!
Zaza
Absolutely delicious! I am going to save your recipe. Thanks for sharing:)
Angela LeMoine
Thank you! Hope you enjoy it!