Description
Delightful creamy chicken and broccoli pasta shells bring comfort and flavor to weeknight dinners. Cheesy pasta shells combine tender chicken, crisp broccoli, and a rich sauce that makes dinner special for families seeking satisfying meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups chicken, shredded
- 1 jar (16 oz / 453 g) alfredo sauce
- 21 jumbo pasta shells, cooked
- 2 cups broccoli, cooked and chopped
- 1½ – 2 cups spaghetti sauce (optional)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F and position the rack in the center for optimal heat distribution.
- Filling Creation: Combine alfredo sauce, shredded chicken, broccoli florets, cheddar, and parmesan in a mixing bowl, blending ingredients until they form a cohesive, creamy mixture.
- Dish Setup: Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter, then spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce across the bottom to create a flavor-rich base.
- Shell Stuffing: Carefully fill each cooked jumbo pasta shell with the prepared mixture, ensuring a generous and even distribution of ingredients throughout the shell.
- Baking Configuration: Arrange the stuffed shells in a single, uniform layer within the prepared dish, then cover tightly with aluminum foil to protect the surface and retain moisture.
- Cooking Process: Transfer the covered dish to the preheated oven and bake for 35 minutes, or until the edges are bubbling and the filling is heated thoroughly, creating a piping-hot, indulgent meal.
Notes
- Pasta Shell Perfection: Choose jumbo shells that are intact and uniformly sized to ensure consistent filling and even cooking.
- Chicken Preparation Tip: Shred chicken while it’s still warm for easier and more even distribution throughout the creamy mixture.
- Moisture Management: Drain broccoli thoroughly to prevent excess water from making the filling watery and diluting the creamy texture.
- Cheese Melting Magic: Let the cheese mixture sit for a few minutes before filling shells to allow flavors to blend and create a more cohesive filling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 407
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg