Crazy Good Casserole — Cheesy Chicken Bacon Pasta

Ingredients:

12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, ziti, or rigatoni)

2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed

6–8 slices bacon, cooked crisp & crumbled

2 cups shredded mozzarella (or mix mozzarella & cheddar)

½ cup grated Parmesan

2 cups milk (whole or 2%)

2 tbsp unsalted butter

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup heavy cream (optional, for extra richness)

½ tsp onion powder

½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)

Salt & black pepper, to taste

2 tbsp chopped parsley (for garnish)

Instructions:

Preheat Oven:

Set oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) baking dish.

Cook Pasta:

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Make Cheese Sauce:

In a large pan, melt butter. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Stir in flour to make a roux, cooking 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk and cream until smooth and thickened (3–4 min). Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, and paprika. Remove from heat and stir in 1½ cups mozzarella + Parmesan until melted.

Assemble:

Combine pasta, chicken, and half the bacon with the cheese sauce. Pour into baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and bacon.

Bake

Bake uncovered 20–25 min, until bubbly and golden on top.

Serve

Garnish with parsley and serve warm.