Sometimes we can all use a good shortcut meal. This Hearty Garlic and Herb Alfredo Bake was a recipe I came up with years ago that used a boxed mac and cheese mix as a base for a filling family dinner. The flavor of mac and cheese used originally isn’t being made anymore, but the recipe will work with any similar boxed noodle and cheese mixes! It comes together fast with just a few ingredients and really elevates those boxed mixes. If you’d like to make this recipe all from scratch, just boil your own noodles and try our Guiltless Alfredo recipe.
This easy dinner idea was featured here on Our Best Bites way back in 2013. Kraft sent a film crew to my house and I got to share a little sneak peek into my life, my home, and my kitchen. It’s fun to look back on these early days in front of the camera when my kids were young! Click below to watch that video, and watch for the part where my 2nd grader gets clothes-lined in the back yard (#favoritescene). Then scroll on for recipe details.
Ingredients Needed
This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.
- Boxed macaroni and cheese – Any brand, any flavor. The original recipe was written for Kraft’s Garlic and Herb Alfredo variety, so if you can find something close to that, that’s great. If you find a good Alfredo option, feel free to add some fresh or dried garlic and some Italian herbs to the mix.
- Cooked chicken – Diced or shredded chicken breast. Rotisserie chicken works well.
- Fresh spinach leaves – Fresh is best. If you do need to use frozen, be sure it’s thawed and all of the excess moisture is squeezed out before adding it to the recipe.
- Marinated artichoke hearts – You’ll find these near the pickled items or near the pasta sauces in your grocery store. They are artichoke hearts packed in herbs and l olive oil.
- Sundried tomatoes – You’ll find these near the artichoke hearts in your grocery store.
- Fresh bread crumbs – For these I just toss a piece of bread in the food processor with a little butter and parmesan. They make the perfect topping that bakes up toasty and delicious.
- Grated Parmesan cheese – This gets added to the breadcrumbs for a savory topping.
- Melted butter – This also gets added to that topping mixture, to ensure those bread crumbs bake up golden and full of flavor.
How to Make a Hearty Garlic and Herb Alfredo Bake
- First you’ll prepare your pasta according to the package directions. Add a little garlic powder and Italian seasoning if desired.
- Then you’ll add the mix ins: cooked chicken, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, and chopped spinach.
- After that gets mixed up, you’ll pop it in some baking dishes (you can do one larger dish or individual ones) and top with a mixture of fresh bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and a drizzle of butter.
- That all goes under the broiler for a quick toast and then dinner is served!
Storing and Other Tips
- Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 2-3 days for best results.
- Add a splash of milk when reheating to help loosen the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Leftovers are great, but the sauce will soak into the pasta as it sits. I would say this one is best made fresh initially but it makes good lunchtime leftovers! You can certainly prep your add ins and topping ahead of time so everything is ready to go, though.
I probably wouldn’t bother. It’s so quick and easy that it really makes more sense to make it fresh!
Sure. Tuna would be great here. You could even air fry some chicken tenders and chop those up before mixing everything together!
Hearty Garlic and Herb Alfredo Bake
Ingredients
- 1 box Macaroni and Cheese Kraft Garlic and Herb Alfredo Variety, or brand and flavor of choice
- 1 cup cooked diced or shredded chicken breast
- 1 ½ cups loosely packed fresh spinach torn into small pieces
- 6-7 ounces marinated artichoke hearts drained and diced
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil drained and sliced
- 1 cup fresh bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Prepare Macaroni and Cheese according to package directions. Add chicken, spinach, artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes. Stir over low heat until everything is combined and heated through.
- Spoon mixture into a serving dish, or 6 individual ramekins. Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan, and butter, and mix thoroughly. Sprinkle evenly on top of pasta and place under a broiler just until crumbs are golden and toasted.
Notes
- Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 2-3 days for best results.
- Add a splash of milk when reheating to help loosen the sauce.
Questions & Reviews
Totally thought that was going to be a Mormon Message before the box of Mac and Cheese came on. Ha! I also have not seen this at Smith’s-which is the only place I shop. Maybe soon I guess!
LOL- I love the film style of those videos, this definitely takes the same approach. Love it! “My name is Sara. I’m a Mom, a maid, and a mac n’ cheese eater.” 😉
Looks good, but it seems like all your recipes lately have been based on Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Is this your blog, or a commercial? How many recipes are going to be posted with Mac and Cheese? I don’t mean to be harsh. It just makes me think you’re just about using a product you’re being paid to advertise. Its been frustrating enough lately always wading through all the pop up ads you have on here. Are the recipes just going to be commercials too? Post ads on the side of your blog. Make links to great recipes using the products. Don’t make selling a product the whole subject of your blog. I’m about to stop checking in. I see enough commercials already.
Jenna, part of our full-time jobs involve working as freelance food writers. We’ve made it clear that we are enjoying developing original recipes for Kraft’s four new varieties (this is the 4th and final one) this month so that’s why we’re sharing them with our audience. Since we have a vast array of readers in our demographic, we post a vast array of recipe types, and some of those involve brands that we support and choose to partner with in sponsored content. There are over 750 in our recipe index, so while we understand that you might not enjoy these specific ones, we hope you’ll enjoy some new ones you haven’t tried before by browsing the index. Happy Cooking!
This is like a cheater shortcut for your bacon artichoke penne bake, which we love, but sometimes I don’t want to get all those dishes dirty or don’t have time. Having a shortcut that’s similar is awesome. Thanks!
Yes, exactly Ellie- good eye! 🙂
I was wondering where you got your cute individual sized baking dishes both in the video and in the blog post. Thanks!
I picked up those cute baking dishes at my local Marshall’s store. My store almost always carries similar items on a regular basis. Check it out and see if you can score a deal- I think those were only $2 bucks each!
Oh, and the blue/yellow/green ramekins are from World Market. I bought them this past spring, but they might still have them!
I’m making this for dinner tonight! Where did you get your adorable serving dishes? I love the red!
Steffanie- see my comment to Bobbi! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Wow – I am looking for this tonight – I have some grilled chicken that needs to be eaten and this looks so good!!!
Ok I may have missed something along the way with these mac ‘n cheese recipes, I’m like the kid in class with the “huh” look on her face, but I went to Walmart the other day and could not find them. So where do we find the new flavors? Are they only in certain stores right now or a section in the store?
Elina, they’re new, so they might still be rolling out into stores near you. Where I live, all of my Walmarts carry them (they’re by the regular Mac n’ Cheese, and the box looks very similar, so you sometimes have to really look to spot them!) and I’ve bought them at my local Albertsons as well. I would imagine if they’re not in your stores yet, they should be very soon!
The Garlic and Herb one is the ONE I am dying to try and the closest store that carries it is over 30+ miles from my house. I live in Salt Lake, for crying out loud! 🙂 You can look on Kraft’s website (the link at the bottom of the page – Yes the ad!) will take you there and you can type in what you are searching for. It will tell you what stores by you have which kinds! Hope this help!
You and your family are the cutest ever!!! Thanks for sharing.
Looks delicious! Would you mind sharing where your cute measuring cups are from?
Those are from World Market! Here’s the link.
Thank you!
Fun video!! I’ve been drooling over your 2 recipes now with the new Kraft mac and cheese flavors. Gotta try them!!