Description
Succulent garlic butter chicken alfredo stuffed shells bring Italian-American comfort to dinner tables with creamy, cheesy goodness. Delightful pasta pockets packed with tender chicken and rich sauce promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
Pasta and Cheese:
- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375F (190C) to prepare for baking the stuffed shells.
- Boil pasta shells in salted water until al dente, then drain and allow to cool completely.
- In a skillet, sear chicken pieces over medium heat with seasonings until golden brown and fully cooked, approximately 7-8 minutes.
- Using the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic until aromatic, releasing its intense flavor.
- Create the Alfredo sauce by combining heavy cream, chicken broth, and Italian seasoning, simmering gently for 3-4 minutes.
- Incorporate Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses into the sauce, stirring until smooth and creamy.
- Fold the cooked chicken into the silky Alfredo mixture, ensuring even distribution.
- Generously fill each cooled pasta shell with the creamy chicken mixture, placing them carefully in a baking dish.
- Drizzle any remaining sauce over the stuffed shells and sprinkle additional mozzarella cheese on top.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese melts and develops a golden, bubbly crust.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately while hot and appetizing.
Notes
- Enhance chicken flavor by marinating it in garlic, herbs, and olive oil for 30 minutes before cooking for deeper taste profile.
- Opt for jumbo pasta shells to ensure easier stuffing and better sauce-to-pasta ratio, preventing potential tearing during preparation.
- Control sauce consistency by adjusting cream and broth amounts; less liquid creates thicker filling, while more creates smoother texture.
- Make this dish gluten-free by substituting regular pasta shells with gluten-free alternatives and using cornstarch instead of traditional thickeners.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 20
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg