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!!!! It’s nice to see the real faces behibd the blogs, and this was beautifully done. And the recipe looks yummy!
I agree with Ellie (post #8). Totally a cheater recipe for the penne bake. Love that! With how busy I’ve been for the last few months, I feel like “cheater recipes” are what I do 80% of the time. Definitely adding this one to the rotation. And GREAT job on the video! You were a natural!
Thanks for another great recipe! I, for one love these kinds of recipes to have in my binder for busy nights, which we have all the time! I would love it if I had nothing else to do but cook every single meal from scratch, but we are busy and this is real life :). You won’t hear any complaints here, because if having ads on the blog allows you guys to keep doing what you do, then bring them on! 🙂
Thanks again ladies! You are awesome 🙂
Sara
Yum. Pasta is a staple here too, and on occasion a good, fancy but quick meal like this is perfection. I’ve never tried artichoke hearts with my . Hmm. Must consider…
Love this one too. It looks so easy and so good. I’m excited to try it out with my family. 🙂
This is my most favorite of the Mac n’ cheeses. What a great, quick dinner idea. I love the video too! Your family is adorable.
How did you get the trampoline in your ground like that? I think that was even cooler than the recipe.
I love the fact that you are posting some semi-homemade recipes! As much as I would love to make everything from scratch all the time, there’s just no way I can do it. I have another food blog that I follow (although you guys are my all time fave) and this woman makes everything homemade. She even makes her own hamburger buns! Who has time for that?! I think all she must ever do is cook and clean up. Thanks! Keep at it! Love you guys!
First of all, settle down people!:) A couple recipes with a base of something we all have in the pantry (admit it or not) is not a sell out – nor is it not ‘real food’. Yes, feeding your family a box of mac and cheese every night is not great. Every now and then – and with some fresh ingredient add ins – is perfectly fine and shows how real life works. Next time I’m shopping, I will look for the new flavors and I probably wouldn’t have done so without you showing me some ideas on how to make it even better. So thanks!
Second, seeing your son get clothes lined was hilarious! I appreciate the video for that alone!
Well done! Loved watching this.