Baked Cheesy Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp butter
• Salt & pepper
• 1/2 lb. pasta (rotini, penne, rigatoni, bowties- whatever you’d like)
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 c. + 1 Tbsp. flour
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 3 c. milk
• 3/4 c. shredded cheese (I used a provolone/mozzarella mix)
• 3/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Boil pasta until al dente- about 3 minutes under recommended time. Set aside.
3. While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a medium skillet. Season chicken with salt & pepper and cook until no longer pink inside. Remove from pan and thinly slice. Set aside.
4. In a medium pot or dutch oven, melt butter and add flour and garlic. Whisk together and cook for about 1 minute (you are creating roux- the thickener for your cheese sauce).
5. Gradually add milk while whisking constantly. Bring to a simmer and whisk frequently while sauce thickens. It may take a few minutes to thicken, just keep whisking!
6. Remove pot from heat and gradually stir in cheeses.
7. Add chicken and pasta to pot. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
8. Pour mixture into a greased baking dish.
9. Bake uncovered for about 25 minutes or until top is golden and bubbling. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.