Baked Chicken Alfredo

I truly do not understand why weekly pasta night isn't a thing. It's usually easy to prepare and, at least in our home, kid-approved. This Chicken Alfredo can be baked and served, which makes it perfect to make ahead to heat up for dinner later in the week, or served without baking.

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Baked Chicken Alfredo

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts, raw and patted dry
• 1 to 2 cups frozen broccoli
• 1 16 oz package of pasta (your choice)
• 1 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp salt, divided
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil; add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain pasta.
2. In large saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and saute about 30 seconds until golden. Stir in cream cheese until smooth. Add milk and stir until there are no lumps. 
3. Lower heat to medium and add 3/4 of the Parmesan cheese, dried parsley, Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce is smooth. Remove from heat.
4. In a large skillet over low heat, heat olive oil. Season both sides of the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and garlic powder on. Cook chicken breasts for about 6 minutes per side, until no longer pink in the center and thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 165'. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch cubes. (I've used a shortcut and cut up cooked rotisserie chicken instead.)
5. Preheat oven to 375'. Butter bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Cover bottom with a layer of pasta. Next, layer half of the chicken cubes on top, add broccoli, and pour 1/2 of the sauce over the chicken. Repeat layering pasta, chicken, and sauce. Sprinkle top with remaining Parmesan cheese and cover with foil.
6. Bake at 375' for about 15 minutes until sauce is bubbly. Remove foil and bake another 5 minutes until cheese is golden.