Description
Indulge in this comforting Cheesy Chicken and Smoked Turkey Pasta Bake, a flavorful combination of tender pasta, succulent chicken, and smoky turkey in a creamy, cheesy sauce, topped with a crispy breadcrumb crust. Perfect for a cozy family dinner or using up holiday leftovers.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces penne or rotini pasta
Meat:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast (diced)
- 1 cup smoked turkey breast (diced)
Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Garnish/Topping:
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs (optional for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- Make sauce: Melt butter, whisk in flour, then gradually whisk in milk until thickened. Remove from heat, stir in cheeses, season, and add pasta, chicken, and turkey.
- Assemble: Pour mixture into baking dish. Optionally, mix remaining Parmesan with breadcrumbs and sprinkle on top.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly. Garnish with parsley before serving.
Notes
- For extra smokiness, add smoked paprika to the breadcrumb topping.
- You can use rotisserie chicken or holiday turkey as substitutes in this recipe.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
