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
Love the video, especially seeing how your family interacts with one another. Thanks!
I don’t feel like you are selling out. I may be being naive, but I actually trust that you gals try to advertise things you sincerely do like. It isn’t like the World Olympics athlete advertising a Big Mac that they couldn’t or wouldn’t ever eat. I buy ice cream and mac and cheese. Why not buy the ice cream my favorite foodies love? It is nice to have someone else’s opinion on products even when they get paid for it as long as I can trust that they pick to be paid for the things they sincerely like. I’m sure you have lots and lots of potential things to endorse and you carefully pick and choose the ones you do.
You got it Ellen! We literally get hundreds of offers to work with brands on sponsored content and we partner with a very select few. From the very beginning we’ve told our readers that we won’t endorse anything we wouldn’t/don’t use ourselves and we stick to it! My family buys good ol’ Mac and Cheese by the case at Costco- so it’s definitely something we use!
Love the totally cute video, Sara!
Personally, I don’t see your sponsorship as selling out ~ I think there are a lot of mom’s out there who use boxed meals as a base (Rice-A-Roni, scalloped potatoes, etc.) and add in some kind of protein and vegetable to make a casserole. Maybe only once in a while, on soccer nights, but most of us understand that you aren’t telling us to make these boxed meals our new cooking norm, I think you are trying to offer a very fast choice for the one night we may need a clever idea. I know that you have a wide audience and there are bound to be some disenchanted readers, but there are still a ton of use who understand that busy moms sometimes sacrifice a perfect meal for more time to play with the kiddos 🙂 Also, you are very understanding, I hate to say it, but I’m not sure I’d be as diplomatic with rude people…. Gold star for you!
Sara, not only are you sharing a great recipe with us, you’re also sharing a part of your home and family with us, something you definitely don’t have to do on a cooking blog, but I love that you’ve shared personal parts of your life with us! I’m sad that some blog followers can’t seem to appreciate that. You and Kate are amazing, and your blog and recipes have changed my life! I will always be a grateful and true follower. And I love the added aspect of videos. Anyway, I didn’t plan on getting so long-winded, I just wanted to say that I love you and Kate and ourbestbites.com!
Such a fun video! Loved the kids playing and everyone eating around the table glimpse…seeing your husband, and the BYU picture–woohoo!
You are adorable!!! I loved the video and seeing your cute family and beautiful house.
This looks good, I know my daughter would eat it. I am going to throw in some julienned basil in place of some of the spinach. My basil plants are going crazy right now.
What a yummy looking recipe! Loved the video! I feel like I know you girls from the way you write, so it’s fun to actually hear your voice!
Sara, that was a very diplomatic response to the hater comments. Ugh. Sorry you have to deal with people who rather than show gratitude for all the work that goes in to provide readers with dinner inspiration (thank you!!!) choose to be angry about allowing you to run your site as a business and make money while doing something you enjoy. Just know that those mean spirited people are the minority and you and Kate’s work is much appreciated! Since my kids ask for Mac n Cheese for just about every meal, I am excited to try these with some grown up flair!
I love this comment! We as readers do not pay them for their recipes and hard work, so they need to make their money somewhere. Ads and sponsors are it. I wish people would just appreciate this free service and not complain if a recipe doesn’t suit them!
Well said Allison and Heather! I love OBB and all of the wonderful recipes. I love that you, Sara and Kate, are real. Great video, thank you for sharing a part of your life with us!
I agree with KS. I really thought this was going to be an I’m A Mormon video. Looks good though. Wish my daughter could have dairy I am missing mac and cheese.