Cozy Crack Chicken Pasta — Creamy Chicken Noodle Bake

Crack Chicken Pasta — a creamy, comforting chicken noodle bake that’s better than takeout and perfect for busy weeknights. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping it from drying out. Jump to Recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Try this crispy ham and cheese croissant recipe and Pair with this crispy chicken Caesar salad pizza.

What You'll Need for Cozy Crack Chicken Pasta — Creamy Chicken Noodle Bake

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Pasta
• Cream of chicken soup
• Milk
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Pepper
• Paprika
• Optional: Crushed red pepper flakes
• Optional: Fresh parsley

How to Make Cozy Crack Chicken Pasta — Creamy Chicken Noodle Bake

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a large skillet, cook diced chicken over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Season with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, add cream of chicken soup, milk, and paprika. Stir until smooth. Add cooked pasta and shredded cheese to the skillet. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy.
4. Step 4: Add cooked chicken back to the skillet and stir to combine. Pour pasta mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes and fresh parsley.
5. Step 5: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Storing & Reheating Cozy Crack Chicken Pasta — Creamy Chicken Noodle Bake

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Assemble the dish and refrigerate. Bake as usual, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

Freezing Cozy Crack Chicken Pasta — Creamy Chicken Noodle Bake

Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a creamier sauce, use heavy cream instead of milk.
• Best substitution: Substitute the cream of chicken soup with a homemade cream sauce made from butter, flour, and chicken broth.
• Make-ahead: Assemble the dish and refrigerate. Bake as usual, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add a little more milk. If it's too thin, cook it a bit longer to reduce.

Cozy Crack Chicken Pasta — Creamy Chicken Noodle Bake

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

35 mins

⏳

Total

50 mins

🍽

Serves

6 servings

🥗

Diet

High Protein

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Pasta
• Cream of chicken soup
• Milk
• Shredded cheddar cheese

Seasonings

• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Pepper
• Paprika

Optional Toppings

• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a large skillet, cook diced chicken over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Season with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, add cream of chicken soup, milk, and paprika. Stir until smooth. Add cooked pasta and shredded cheese to the skillet. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy.
4. Step 4: Add cooked chicken back to the skillet and stir to combine. Pour pasta mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes and fresh parsley.
5. Step 5: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a creamier sauce, use heavy cream instead of milk.
• Best substitution: Substitute the cream of chicken soup with a homemade cream sauce made from butter, flour, and chicken broth.
• Make-ahead: Assemble the dish and refrigerate. Bake as usual, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add a little more milk. If it's too thin, cook it a bit longer to reduce.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
• Make ahead: Assemble the dish and refrigerate. Bake as usual, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 650
• Protein: 40g
• Fat: 25g
• Carbs: 65g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 120mg
• Sat. Fat: 12g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Cozy Crack Chicken Pasta — Creamy Chicken Noodle Bake FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Cozy Crack Chicken Pasta — Creamy Chicken Noodle Bake and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!