4.3 from 150 votes
Chicken Pesto Alfredo Pasta
This baked chicken pesto alfredo freezer meal has chicken, pesto, bacon, cheese, fresh spinach and tomatoes all mixed together in a delicious white sauce.
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 918 kcal
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 16 oz penne pasta - cooked al dente and drained
- 4 cups cooked chicken cubed
- 4 cups shredded Italian cheese blend 16 ounces
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 15 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 3 tbsp basil pesto
- 3/4 cup crispy bacon- finely chopped
- 1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Make a simple white sauce by melting butter in a pan over medium heat. Sprinkle in flour over melted butter and whisk constantly for 3-4 minutes over medium heat. Then add in chicken broth and whisk quickly together. Cook over heat until it’s thick and bubbles up. Set white sauce aside.
- Cook penne pasta according to package directions. Drain noodles and then dump them into a large mixing bowl.
- Add in white sauce, cooked chicken, cheese, spinach, crushed tomatoes, milk, pesto and 1/2 cup of the bacon. Mix well.
- Pour pasta into a 9x13 baking dish.
- In a separate bowl mix together parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, remaining bacon and olive oil.
- Cover pasta with bread crumb mixture and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Cup of Yum
MAKE IT A FREEZER MEAL
- Before baking cover with foil, label and freeze. Thaw, remove foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Notes
- If you are in a rush, use rotisserie chicken and leftover bacon to make this recipe.
- Portion into smaller dishes and freeze before cooking for extra meals.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1g
Calories
918kcal
(46%)
Carbohydrates
80g
(27%)
Protein
41g
(82%)
Fat
49g
(75%)
Saturated Fat
16g
(80%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
10g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
67mg
(22%)
Sodium
1165mg
(49%)
Potassium
700mg
(20%)
Fiber
5g
(20%)
Sugar
9g
(18%)
Vitamin A
2142IU
(43%)
Vitamin C
16mg
(18%)
Calcium
411mg
(41%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 918
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 918kcal | 46% |
| Carbohydrates | 80g | 27% |
| Protein | 41g | 82% |
| Fat | 49g | 75% |
| Saturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 67mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 1165mg | 49% |
| Potassium | 700mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 9g | 18% |
| Vitamin A | 2142IU | 43% |
| Vitamin C | 16mg | 18% |
| Calcium | 411mg | 41% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.