Chicken Alfredo Monkey Bread: A Cheesy, Pull-Apart

Are you on the lookout for a sensational dish that blends the decadent, creamy taste of a beloved pasta classic with the sheer joy of a pull-apart loaf? A recipe that will have your loved ones gathering around, excited to tear off another piece of cheesy, sauce-laden goodness? Your search is over. Allow us to introduce you to what we believe will be your new culinary obsession: the magnificent Chicken Alfredo Monkey Bread. This dish expertly transforms everyday ingredients into a warm, gooey, and utterly delicious centrepiece, ideal for get-togethers, family meals, or whenever you need a hearty dose of comfort.

This is far more than just another meal; it’s a shared experience. Picture fluffy morsels of biscuit dough, lavishly coated in garlic butter, mixed with savoury cooked chicken, and then baked in a sumptuous, creamy Alfredo sauce with heaps of melted mozzarella and Parmesan. Every single piece you pull away offers a perfect, self-contained bite of pure delight. Let’s get started and discover how you can craft this masterpiece right in your own kitchen.

What Exactly is Chicken Alfredo Monkey Bread?

For those who may not be familiar with it, traditional monkey bread is a sweet, sticky pull-apart treat made from dough balls baked with cinnamon, sugar, and butter. We’ve embraced this wonderful idea and given it a savoury twist. Our savoury monkey bread trades the sweet spices for timeless Italian-American flavours. It’s composed of:

• Pillowy Dough: We opt for refrigerated biscuit dough to provide a quick and simple foundation, though you’re welcome to use your own. Each piece bakes into a soft, fluffy vessel for the rich sauce and cheese.
• Creamy Alfredo Sauce: As the heart of the recipe, this luscious sauce permeates every part of the loaf, guaranteeing a creamy, flavourful experience in every mouthful.
• Tender Chicken: Shredded or diced cooked chicken is distributed throughout, adding a welcome protein and satisfying texture to the dish.
• Lots of Cheese: A fantastic blend of mozzarella, for that classic cheese pull, and Parmesan, for its distinct salty sharpness, makes this bake truly special.

When all these components are baked together in a bundt pan, they fuse into a beautiful, shareable creation. The top becomes golden and slightly crisp, while the inside stays wonderfully soft, saucy, and cheesy.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

We are quite sure this dish will earn a permanent spot in your cooking repertoire. Here are a few of the reasons we adore it, and we think you will too:

• Wonderfully Simple to Make: By using ready-made biscuit dough and a good-quality jarred Alfredo sauce, this impressive-looking dish is surprisingly low-effort. It’s a superb choice for busy weeknights when you fancy something special without the fuss.
• Perfect for Sharing: This is the ultimate communal food. Just place it in the middle of the table and invite everyone to dig in. It’s a fantastic icebreaker and is ideal for parties, potlucks, and casual family dinners.
• The Ultimate Comfort Food: Warm bread, creamy sauce, tender chicken, and melted cheese—what could possibly be more comforting? This is a genuine comfort food recipe that delivers a feeling of pure contentment.
• Completely Customisable: We encourage you to make this recipe your own! Why not add some crispy bacon, wilted spinach, or sautéed mushrooms? You could even swap the mozzarella for a spicy pepper jack. The creative possibilities are truly endless.

Essential Ingredients for Your Savoury Monkey Bread

To begin, you will need a small selection of simple, readily available ingredients. We’ve organised them into three key groups. Having everything ready before you start will ensure the entire process is both smooth and enjoyable.

For the Dough and Coating:

• 2 tubes (approx. 450g each) of refrigerated biscuit dough
• 115g unsalted butter, melted
• 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (a blend of oregano, basil, and thyme works well)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For the Filling and Topping:

• 300g cooked chicken, shredded or diced (a rotisserie chicken is a great time-saver!)
• 250g mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 60g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

For the Sauce:

• 1 jar (approx. 425g) of your favourite Alfredo sauce

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Perfect Pull-Apart Chicken Alfredo

Are you ready to assemble this cheesy marvel? Just follow our straightforward steps for a guaranteed delicious result. We suggest reading through the entire method once before you start cooking.

1. Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Dough

   To start, preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan / Gas Mark 4). Generously grease a 10-cup bundt pan with either butter or a non-stick cooking spray. This is a vital step to help your monkey bread release easily after baking. Next, open the tubes of biscuit dough, separate the biscuits, and use a knife or kitchen scissors to cut each one into quarters.

2. Step 2: Create the Garlic Butter Coating

   In a small bowl, melt your butter in the microwave. Once melted, stir in the minced garlic, Italian herbs, and black pepper. In a separate large bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, giving them a good toss to ensure they are well mixed.

3. Step 3: Combine and Layer

   Now comes the enjoyable part! Add the quartered biscuit pieces to the large bowl containing your cheese mixture. Pour the melted garlic butter over the dough and gently mix with your hands or a spatula until every piece is thoroughly coated. You can now begin layering the ingredients in your prepared bundt pan. Start with a third of the coated dough pieces, followed by a sprinkle of half the cooked chicken. Repeat this with another third of the dough and the rest of the chicken, finishing with the remaining dough on top.

4. Step 4: Add the Creamy Alfredo Sauce

   With your layers in place, it’s time to add the sauce. Carefully pour the Alfredo sauce as evenly as possible over the dough in the pan. We want it to sink into all the gaps and crevices to make sure every bite is perfectly creamy.

5. Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection

   Set the bundt pan on a baking tray to catch any spills. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the top is a deep golden brown and the dough is fully cooked. You can check if it’s done by inserting a skewer into the centre; it should emerge clean. If you notice the top browning too quickly, you can loosely cover it with aluminium foil for the rest of the baking time.

6. Step 6: Rest, Invert, and Serve

   This is a very important step! After taking it out of the oven, allow the monkey bread to rest in the pan for about 10 minutes. This helps it to set and makes it much easier to turn out. Place a large serving plate over the bundt pan and, using oven gloves, confidently and swiftly flip it over. The pull-apart chicken alfredo should slide out onto the plate. Garnish with plenty of fresh parsley and serve straight away while it is still warm and gooey.

Pro Tips and Variations for the Best Chicken Alfredo Bake

Would you like to take your cheesy chicken bread to an even higher level? Here are a few of our most-loved tips and creative twists for you to try.

• Use Freshly Grated Cheese: While pre-shredded cheese is very convenient, it often has anti-caking agents that can stop it from melting perfectly. Grating your own block of mozzarella and Parmesan will give you a far superior, creamier melt.
• Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Make sure that your bundt pan is large enough for the job. If you overfill it, you risk ending up with an undercooked centre. A 10 or 12-cup pan is just right.
• Homemade Sauce: If you find yourself with a little extra time, making your own Alfredo sauce will be a true game-changer. For a wonderful place to start, we recommend this classic Alfredo sauce recipe from BBC Good Food. It’s surprisingly easy and will elevate the flavour tremendously.
• Add-in Ideas:
  • Bacon: Mix 150g of cooked, crumbled bacon into the layers for a delicious smoky and salty flavour.
  • Spinach: Wilt a large handful of fresh spinach, then squeeze out all the excess moisture before adding it along with the chicken.
  • Mushrooms: Sautéed mushrooms will add a lovely, earthy depth to the dish.
  • Spice it Up: For a gentle warmth, add 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter.

What to Serve with Your Monkey Bread

As this dish is incredibly rich and satisfying, we suggest serving it with something light and fresh to create a balanced meal. A simple green salad tossed in a vinaigrette dressing makes an excellent companion. Steamed or roasted vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, or green beans also pair beautifully. For those wanting an extra-hearty and comforting meal, it goes wonderfully with a flavourful soup like The Ultimate Marry Me Chicken Soup Recipe. Alternatively, if you’re craving more Italian-inspired comfort food, you could explore other brilliant dishes like The Ultimate Garlic Butter Chicken Parmesan Pasta Recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I make this ahead of time?

You can certainly assemble the monkey bread up to four hours in advance. Just cover it tightly with cling film and keep it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, you might need to add an extra 5-10 minutes to the cooking time as it will be baking from chilled.

How do I store leftovers?

On the rare occasion that you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. To reheat, warm up individual portions in the microwave or place the bread on a baking sheet and heat it in the oven at 175°C until warmed through.

Can I use homemade biscuit dough?

Of course! Using a homemade dough will make this dish even more special. We would just advise using a fairly sturdy biscuit or scone-style dough that can hold its own against the rich sauce and fillings.

What if I don’t have a bundt pan?

That’s no problem at all. You can prepare this recipe in a 9×13-inch baking dish or even a large, oven-safe cast-iron skillet. While the final shape will be different, the taste will be just as fantastic. The baking time may need a slight adjustment, so be sure to keep a close eye on it.

Can I freeze Chicken Alfredo Monkey Bread?

We believe this dish is best enjoyed fresh to appreciate its ideal texture. Freezing can sometimes cause the dough to become a bit soft when reheated. However, if you do need to freeze it, wrap it very well once it has cooled down completely. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating it in the oven.

Your New Favourite Comfort Food Awaits

So there you have it—our simple yet spectacular recipe for Chicken Alfredo Monkey Bread, which we are sure is destined to be a new family favourite. It’s cheesy, creamy, incredibly fun to eat, and has a wonderful way of bringing people together. The blend of soft, garlic-infused bread, tender chicken, and rich Alfredo sauce is truly a match made in culinary heaven.

We really hope you feel inspired to get into the kitchen and give this incredible dish a go. It’s the perfect way to transform an ordinary meal into an extraordinary and lasting memory. Please let us know how yours turns out in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this recipe with others who appreciate good food and great company!