Description
Pasta perfection meets creamy indulgence with million dollar chicken alfredo stuffed shells, a luxurious Italian-American dish that promises rich flavor in every bite. Cheese-laden shells packed with tender chicken and velvety sauce will transport diners straight to comfort food paradise.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 20 large pasta shells
- 1 package jumbo shells
Filling:
- 2 cups shredded chicken
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Sauce and Topping:
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 cup alfredo sauce
- 1/2 cup additional mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh basil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and prepare a large baking dish by lightly greasing it with olive oil.
- Cook pasta shells in salted boiling water until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- In a mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses. Whisk in the egg, chopped parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until thoroughly blended.
- Create a luxurious alfredo sauce by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, then pour in heavy cream and pre-made alfredo sauce.
- Gently stuff each pasta shell with the chicken-cheese mixture, ensuring a generous and even fill.
- Pour half of the alfredo sauce into the prepared baking dish, creating a creamy base for the shells.
- Arrange the stuffed shells carefully in the sauce, nestling them close together.
- Drizzle the remaining alfredo sauce over the shells and sprinkle additional mozzarella cheese on top.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped basil before serving.
Notes
- Keep pasta shells slightly firmer than usual, as they’ll continue cooking in the oven to prevent mushiness.
- Use rotisserie chicken for faster preparation and deeper flavor complexity.
- Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk for a lighter version, reducing overall calorie content.
- Customize the dish by adding spinach or sun-dried tomatoes into the chicken-cheese mixture for extra nutrition and flavor variation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 720
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 52 g
- Saturated Fat: 29 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg