Grilled Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Hello fellow food lovers.  I told you all, I am all about great tasting, long-lasting meals.  As much as I LOVE to cook and try new recipes, by the time I get home after work, all I want to do is get things prepared for the next day, spend some time with my husband/kids, and go to bed.  I do not want to spend my whole evening in the kitchen, so having meals that can stretch are ideal to me.  Last weekend, I made a casserole and it turned out better than I thought it would.  It lasted our family of five for three days.  What made it even better was the 5 cheese Peppridge Farm Five Cheese Garlic Bread.  I posted a picture of the finished product on social media and many requested the recipe, so here you go!  I hope yours comes out just as great as mine did!

                         Recipe: Grilled Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 (12oz box) of penne pasta (you can use any pasta you like)
• 1 package of chicken tenders
• 2-3 table spoons of canola or olive oil
• Cooking Spray
• 1/4 tsp of tyme
• season all, garlic powder, black pepper, and paprika
• 1 stick o butter
• 3 tsp of minced garlic
• 4 tbsp of flour
• 3 cups of half and half
• 3 cups of milk
• 3 cups of Italian Five Cheese
• 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup of any shredded other white cheese
• Italian seasoning for garnish

Instructions:

1. Marinate your chicken the night before if you can in Italian dressing or some type of marinade. Season it with the seasonings listed above to taste 
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
3. Cook the penne pasta according to the box directions
4. In the meantime, get a grill ready (George Foreman, large grill, whatever you have on hand.  Oil the plates up/the grill with the olive oil/canola oil.  Grill your chicken on both sides until it is done (about 10-15 minutes).   
5. When your chicken is done and has cooled off, cut it into chunks and set aside. 

Sauce Instructions: 

1. Melt the butter in a large skillet/sauce pan.  Add the minced garlic to the butter and cook for about 3 minutes.  

2. Using a wire whisk, slowly mix in the flour and stir until it is starting to bubble. Add the half&half and the milk to the flour/butter/garlic.  

3. Bring all of this to a boil and then reduce your heat to to low.  Let this simmer for about 5 minutes.  Don't be afraid to taste your sauce.  If you want to add some garlic powder, black pepper, or seasoning, do so.  

4. Add 1 1/2 cup of the Italian five cheese to the sauce.  Cook for another 5 minutes until the sauce starts to thickens.  Make sure you are continually stirring.  When your sauce has thickened, removed from heat. 

Instructions Continued

1. In a large bowl, add the cut up grilled chicken chunks, then add the pasta, and finally add the sauce.  Mix everything up well.
2. Spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray.  Add the pasta pix to the pan and then start to sprinkle all the remaining cheese on top (the mozzarella, the other white cheese you have chosen, as well as the rest of the Italian five cheese).  
3. Sprinkle with black pepper and garlic powder.  Then place it in the oven that is already preheated for 30-40 minutes.  It should be a golden brown and your kitchen should smell divine!  
4. When it comes out of the oven, let it stand for about 5-10 minutes.  Serve with your favorite garlic bread. 

Enjoy!