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Lightened-Up Chicken-Alfredo Baked Penne

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Pillsbury Kitchens
Updated May 7, 2021
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You love our famous Chicken-Alfredo Baked Penne, and now we’ve made an equally delicious casserole that is inspired by the original, but cuts the calories (45 percent per serving!) for those times you want a creamy, cozy casserole without all the guilt. A scratch Alfredo sauce made with Neufchâtel cheese, a punch of broccoli and chopped chicken help lighten up this dish without sacrificing any flavor. Plus, we added a panko bread crumb topping for extra crunch!

Lightened-Up Chicken-Alfredo Baked Penne

  • Prep Time 30 min
  • Total 1 hr 15 min
  • Ingredients 13
  • Servings 8
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Ingredients

  • 8 oz uncooked penne pasta (about 2 1/3 cups)
  • 1 cup Progresso™ Panko Italian style crispy bread crumbs (from 8-oz box)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup Progresso™ chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 package (8 oz) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), cubed
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups chopped cooked chicken
  • 1 package (12.6 oz) frozen broccoli florets, thawed
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 oz)
Make With
Progresso Broth

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Step 
    2
    Cook pasta as directed on box; drain. In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and olive oil; set aside.
  • Step 
    3
    Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat broth, half-and-half, garlic powder, salt and pepper over medium-high heat 2 to 3 minutes, or until mixture is hot and starting to bubble around edges. Add cream cheese; beat constantly with whisk 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove from heat; add Parmesan cheese, beating until no lumps remain.
  • Step 
    4
    In large bowl, mix cooked pasta, chicken, thawed broccoli, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and the sauce mixture. Carefully stir until well mixed; transfer mixture into baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese; top with bread crumb mixture.
  • Step 
    5
    Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through and bubbling around edges. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

460 Calories
21g Total Fat
28g Protein
40g Total Carbohydrate
3g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
460
Calories from Fat
190
Total Fat
21g
33%
Saturated Fat
10g
50%
Trans Fat
1/2g
Cholesterol
75mg
26%
Sodium
1170mg
49%
Potassium
290mg
8%
Total Carbohydrate
40g
13%
Dietary Fiber
2g
11%
Sugars
3g
Protein
28g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
20%
20%
Vitamin C
15%
15%
Calcium
35%
35%
Iron
10%
10%
Exchanges:
2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 1 1/2 Lean Meat; 1 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
2 1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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