Cajun Chicken Alfredo Bake - great make-ahead pasta dish the whole family will enjoy. Penne pasta, Alfredo sauce, sour cream, ricotta, garlic, chicken, smoked sausage, cajun seasoning, eggs, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. SO good! Makes a lot of food. Can freeze half for later. Great for Mardi Gras or an easy weeknight meal!
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly spray 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.
Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, cook smoked sausage until lightly browned. Drain any fat.
In a large bowl, stir together all ingredients except mozzarella cheese.
Spread mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Notes:
What is Cajun seasoning? It is a mixture of spices used in Cajun/Creole food. It has paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, and thyme.
Our favorite store-bought cajun seasonings are Tony Chachere and Slap Ya Mama.
You can use any pasta noodles that you prefer. I used penne pasta. Elbow macaroni, ziti, rigatoni, campanelle are all great.
I use rotisserie chicken for the cooked chicken in this dish. You can use any cooked chicken that you have on hand. Chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken tenderloins all work great.
You can use freshly grated parmesan cheese or the grated cheese in the green can.
Feel free to add onions, bell peppers, sundried tomatoes, broccoli, or roasted red peppers to the pasta mixture.
Our favorite store-bought Alfredo Sauce is Rao's.
Can Chicken Alfredo Bake be made in advance? Yes! Assemble the casserole. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake. You may need to add a few minutes to the cooking time if baking straight from the refrigerator.
Can Cajun Chicken Alfredo Bake be frozen? Yes! Assemble the casserole and cool completely. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place in the freezer. When ready to bake, thaw and bake as directed.
Store any leftoversin an airtight container in the fridge.