Every once in a while my family loves a good, home-cooking casserole.  The right combinations in a casserole can almost feel like a warm hug from when you were a child.  They can evoke memories from your past. I always find it amazing to stop and think about the way food effects us emotionally and psychologically.

My kids love cheese.  Anything cheesy will bring them running to the table.  I had a bag of cut up chicken breasts to use and 1 jar of Alfredo sauce that I bought for a recipe and never used.  Dinner!

Verdict:

This was delicious.  I doctored up the jarred Alfredo sauce to make it taste less like a jarred sauce and more homemade but you can easily make your own.  I normally don’t have jarred sauce on hand but was glad I had it last night to get dinner on the table quickly. Hands were being raised at the end of the meal to claim the leftovers for lunch the next day!

I served this meal with a green tossed salad and a side of broccoli.

Ingredients:

• 1 jar of Alfredo Sauce
• 1 (16 oz.) box of pasta
• 1 1/2 lbs. chicken breast, cut into cubes
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, freshly shredded
• 1-2 teaspoons garlic powder (to your taste)
• black pepper and salt
• 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded
• parsley for garnish if desired

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 13 x 9 casserole dish with non-stick spray.
2. Boil pasta according to package instructions to al dente.
3. While pasta is boiling heat a medium skillet over medium high heat.  Add butter to melt and then add chicken.  Season with salt and pepper.
4. Cook chicken until lightly browned and cooked through, about 7-10 minutes depending on the size of your chicken pieces.
5. When pasta is cooked and drained add chicken and pasta back to sauce pan.  Add Alfredo sauce, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese and black pepper.  Stir well until cheese has melted.
6. Pour 1/2 of chicken and pasta mixture into prepared casserole dish.
7. Top with 1 cup of Mozzarella cheese sprinkled over the pasta.
8. Pour remaining chicken and pasta mixture over the cheese.
9. Top with remaining Mozzarella cheese.
10. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese has melted on top and is starting to lightly brown around the edges.
11. Allow casserole to sit for 5 minutes before serving.