Chicken "Divine" with Homemade Alfredo sauce

Chicken "Divine"

Here is another delicious chicken casserole recipe to feed a hungry family!  I found it here at The Cottage Home blog.  I wanted to make this the other night for dinner, but didn't have any alfredo sauce, so I made my own (I've also included this recipe at the end).

Chicken "Divine"

Ingredients:

• 2 packages (10 oz. each) frozen broccoli florets, thawed
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup dry white wine (such as Chardonnay)
• 1 jar (16 oz) alfredo sauce, such as Classico (or make your own)
• 2 cups (4 oz) grated smoked gouda
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 4 cups cooked penne, macaroni, or orecchiette pasta
• 2 cups shredded roast chicken
• 1/4 cup italian style bread crumbs
• Paprika for sprinkling

Directions:

1. If you are going to make your own alfredo sauce, do this first (see recipe below).
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
3. Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  
4. Add the onion, thyme, kosher salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes.  
5. Add the wine, increase the heat to high and cook until all the liquid has evaporated, 2 to 3 minutes. 
6. Remove from heat.  Stir in the alfredo sauce, 1/2 cup of the cheese, the milk and nutmeg.  
7. Then stir in the cooked pasta, broccoli, and chicken and mix thoroughly.
8. Transfer to an 8-inch square baking dish. 
9. Top with the remaining cheese and the bread crumbs. Sprinkle with paprika, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.  
10. Uncover and bake until golden brown, 10-15 minutes more. 

Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese
• 1 cup half and half
• 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tablespoon dried parsley (optional)
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder (optional)
• pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.
2. Cut the cream cheese into smaller chunks and add it to the saucepan.  Use a small whisk to mix it until it is smooth.
3. Add the half and half, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, parsley and pepper. Stir together until well mixed.
4. Remove from heat and let it thicken up as it stands, stirring occasionally.

Yum!