This quick and easy chicken dinner takes just around 30 minutes to make, and it’s something the whole family can dig into. There’s nothing better than a plateful of a homemade creamy chicken pasta dish after a long day! Every bite of this chicken stuffed shells dish is loaded with creamy, cheesy goodness. Even though it’s one of our favorite meals on a busy night, it’s also a great option for dinner parties and special occasions as it looks so impressive. Pair it with some crusty bread or garlic bread and a crisp fresh vegetable salad for a simple, delicious meal! For more of our favorite pasta recipes, check out my Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta, Cajun Pasta with Sausage and Peppers, Classic Lasagna, Baked Ziti, or my Tuna Noodle Casserole!
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Jumbo Pasta Shells: We love using the jumbo shells as a vessel for the creamy chicken mixture, as they hold a lot of filling. Any kind of large pasta shell would work well. Rotisserie Chicken: I usually use a store-bought rotisserie chicken from Costco or the deli section at the grocery, but you can make your own roast chicken, oven baked chicken, pan seared chicken, or use leftovers if you have any! Ricotta Cheese: Adds a deliciously creamy texture to the filling, but I’ve used full-fat cream cheese for this before too and it still tastes amazing! Parmesan Cheese: Gives the dish a nutty, sharp, savory flavor in both the filling and the sauce. Mozzarella Cheese: With a mild flavor, it lets the seasoning create that gooey, cheesy layer on top of the shells. Sour Cream: Adds a tangy creaminess to the chicken mixture and helps balance the flavors. Seasoning: Use a combination of Italian seasoning, freshly ground black pepper, and kosher salt to season the pasta filling. You’ll want some freshly minced garlic, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes to pack a ton of flavor and the slightest amount of heat without being spicy into the creamy sauce! Salted Butter: Used to sauté the garlic for a fragrant savory flavor for the sauce. Heavy Cream: The creamy base of the homemade Alfredo sauce. You can use a lower-fat cream if you wish, but the flavor and texture of the dish will differ.
How to Make Chicken Stuffed Shells Alfredo Pasta Bake
Tips for Success
Cook the pasta shells al dente so that they maintain their shape and texture during the stuffing and baking process. Doing this will give you tender pasta shells at the end of the baking time. Using freshly grated parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese will give you the best flavors. Pre-shredded cheese will never be as flavorful as the freshly shredded stuff! You can use any type of pasta for this recipe, including gluten-free pasta. If your pasta dish is starting to go golden brown on top a bit too early, cover the dish in aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking time.
Substitutions and Variations
You can substitute rotisserie chicken with leftover chicken or even leftover turkey if you want. It’s a great recipe to have on hand for using up holiday leftovers! Add some crispy bacon bits to the chicken mix, or sprinkle some on top for an added smoky bacon flavor. Mix the mozzarella cheese with bread crumbs to sprinkle on top of the pasta to give it a crispier topping. For a no-meat option, use chopped spinach, broccoli, asparagus, or mushrooms instead of shredded chicken. Garnish your pasta with more shredded cheese, freshly chopped green onions, or some fresh herbs like fresh parsley or fresh basil, depending on your flavor preference.
More Delicious Pasta Recipes
Creamy White Chicken Lasagna Mozzarella-Stuffed Meatballs Instant Pot Creamy Penne Alfredo Roasted Red Pepper Sauce over Fettucine Noodles Easy Lemon Pasta (Pasta al Limone) Penne Alla Vodka Cajun Pasta with Sausage and Peppers Manicotti
Try making some fresh homemade bread to have on the side. My Roasted Garlic Rosemary No Knead Artisan Bread, Homemade French Bread, Soft Garlic Parmesan Homemade Breadsticks, or Grilled Garlic Bread would all go well with this dish. A fresh green salad with a mix of your favorite vegetables is a great way to add a refreshing crunch and a dash of color to your meal, balancing the richness of the creamy Alfredo sauce. Try my Olive Garden Salad with Copycat Dressing, Bacon Broccoli Salad, Caprese Salad, or this yummy Heirloom Tomato Salad with Burrata!
Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Creamy Garlic Shrimp Pasta
Baked Ziti
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