Using pantry staples, we’re whipping together a simple breaded and Baked Alfredo Chicken. Serve this chicken with a side of roasted veggies and some baked beans for the easiest weeknight dinner.
Pantry staples to the rescue
With the craziness of back-to-school time and various activities starting up, we rely on easy dinner recipes. But there’s one thing that makes those dinners even easier: having pantry staples on hand that can whip together into a delicious meal.
A dinner made from shelf-stable favorites can be a lifesaver, and this Baked Alfredo Chicken is just that. It relies on just a few fresh ingredients, but for the rest of the recipe we’re using everyday pantry staples!
Baked Alfredo Chicken Ingredients
- For the fresh ingredients we’ve got chicken, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. Both cheeses have quite a long shelf life, so you might even have those already on hand! Choose good quality blocks of cheese, because they’re the stars of this recipe.
- Alfredo sauce is a pretty common pantry staple and does double duty for this recipe — in the breading and the sauce over top the chicken.
- Panko is a Japanese-style breadcrumb, traditionally used as a coating for deep-fried foods. It’s amazing on this chicken! You can typically find panko near regular breadcrumbs in your store. If you only have standard breadcrumbs in your pantry, those will work as well (less crispy but still good).
- We season the chicken with salt and pepper and then add some Italian seasoning and garlic powder to the breading — again, all basic pantry staples.
- Last, but not least, serve some canned baked beans on the side, which should always be in your pantry!
Quick Tip
If your pantry is looking pretty bare, you can restock it gradually to go easy on the family budget. Every time you’re at the store, pick one or two products to add to your inventory: proteins, tomato products, grains, and pasta are all foods you can easily use. Before you know it, your pantry will be ready to create meals without a grocery store run!
Quick tips
- If you have a food scale, use it! When they’re all the same size, the chicken will cook evenly, and nothing can get that more correct than a scale.
- Right after pulling Baked Alfredo Chicken from the oven, grate some Parmesan on top, using a microplane for the best texture.
- Freshly grate the cheese instead of using packaged shredded cheese; it melts and tastes better!
- The best way to tell when the chicken is done is use an accurate meat thermometer. Ensure the thickest part of the chicken reads 160 degrees F.
More Alfredo-style recipes
- Chicken Alfredo with a lightened sauce and bowtie pasta
- Creamy Pesto Pasta combines two flavorful Italian sauces
- Chicken Broccoli Alfredo will make you think you’re at Olive Garden
- One-Pot Creamy Cajun Sausage and Veggie Pasta: Italian meets Cajun in this mashup
Baked Alfredo Chicken
Equipment
- Baking pan 8 x 8-inch
- 2 bowls
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon panko bread crumbs
- 1 container Alfredo sauce divided
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated on a microplane, plus more for serving
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon roasted garlic powder
- 1/2 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉. Spray an 8x8-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- Remove fat from chicken and cut into 8 even pieces (use a food scale if possible; each piece should weigh 2 ounces). Season chicken on all sides with salt and pepper.
- Set out 2 bowls. Place 1/3 cup Alfredo sauce in one. In the other, place panko, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Dredge each chicken piece in the Alfredo and then in the panko mixture. Place chicken pieces in the prepared pan.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Remove and cover with 2/3 cup Alfredo sauce and 1/2 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese.
- Return to oven and bake for another 8–10 minutes, or until chicken is completely cooked through (oven thermometer reads 160℉). Remove and serve on plates. Grate additional Parmesan cheese on top.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Absolutely delicious! We loved it❤️
So happy to hear! Thanks Jane! 🙂