Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I’m about to share a recipe that is pure, unadulterated comfort food magic: my **Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake with Cheesy Loaded Mashed Potatoes**. Seriously, this dish is everything! We’re talking tender bites of chicken and steak coated in a garlicky, cheesy hug, all snuggled up next to fluffy, loaded mashed potatoes. And the best part? It’s mostly a one-pan wonder (okay, two if you count the potato pot, but who’s counting?!). This became a weeknight hero in my house when I needed something hearty and satisfying that didn’t require juggling a million pots and pans. It feels fancy enough for company but is ridiculously easy to pull off even on a Tuesday night when you’re exhausted. Trust me, this Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake is going to become a regular in your rotation. It’s got that perfect balance of savory flavors and creamy goodness that just makes you happy.
Why You’ll Love This Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake
Alright, so why should *you* make this glorious bake? Let me tell you! It’s more than just a meal; it’s a weeknight win. Here’s the scoop:
- Seriously Easy Peasy: We’re talking minimal dishes, folks! Everything for the meat and potatoes pretty much comes together in one go. Less cleanup means more time for, well, anything else!
- Flavor Bomb Alert: Garlic, Parmesan, juicy chicken and steak, and loaded mashed potatoes? It’s a flavor explosion that hits all the right notes – savory, cheesy, and utterly comforting.
- Dinner is Served, Complete: This isn’t just a main dish; it’s the whole shebang! You’ve got your protein, your carbs, and your cheesy goodness all in one spot. No need to stress about side dishes.
- Pure Comfort Food: It’s hearty, it’s satisfying, and it feels like a warm hug on a plate. Perfect for those nights you just need something delicious and filling.
Ingredients for Your Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake
Okay, let’s talk about what you need to make this magic happen! Nothing too crazy or hard to find, just good, honest ingredients that come together beautifully. You’ll want 1 pound of sirloin steak, cut into nice, bite-sized 1-inch cubes. Don’t stress too much about perfection here, just chunks you can easily fork! Same goes for the chicken – grab 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut those into similar 1-inch cubes. For that glorious garlic parmesan coating, you’ll need 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese (the good stuff, please!), about **4 cloves of garlic**, finely minced (garlic lovers, feel free to sneak in an extra clove or two, I won’t tell!), and **1/4 cup of good olive oil**. Seasoning-wise, keep it simple with **1 teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning**, **1/2 teaspoon of salt**, and **1/4 teaspoon of black pepper**. Now, for those epic mashed potatoes, you’ll need about **2 pounds of russet potatoes**, peeled and quartered. You’ll also want **1/2 cup of milk**, **1/4 cup of butter** (real butter, always!), **1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese**, **1/2 cup of cooked and crumbled bacon** (because bacon!), and finally, **2 green onions**, thinly sliced for that little bit of freshness on top. See? Easy peasy!
Essential Equipment for This Bake
Alright, before we dive into the cooking fun, let’s get our tools ready! Luckily, you don’t need a whole arsenal for this one. You’ll definitely want a nice, **large baking sheet** – the bigger the better so your meat has room to crisp up a bit. You’ll also need a **large bowl** for tossing that chicken and steak in the delicious garlic parmesan coating. And of course, for those mashed potatoes, a **large pot** to boil them in is a must. That’s pretty much it! Simple, right?
Preparing Your Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake
Okay, let’s get cooking! This part is super straightforward, I promise. First things first, crank up your oven to **400°F (200°C)**. While the oven’s getting hot, grab that large bowl we talked about and toss in your cubed steak and chicken. Now, in a smaller bowl, whisk together that gorgeous garlic parmesan mixture – the grated Parmesan, minced garlic, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Give it a good mix until everything is happy and combined. Pour that glorious coating right over your meat in the large bowl and get in there with your hands (or tongs, if you’re feeling fancy!) and toss everything around until every single piece of chicken and steak is beautifully coated. You want that garlicky, cheesy goodness clinging to everything!
Now, spread that coated meat out in a single layer on your large baking sheet. Don’t overcrowd the pan! If they’re too close together, they’ll steam instead of roast, and we want those nice little browned edges. Pop that baking sheet into your preheated oven and let it roast for about **15 to 20 minutes**. You’re looking for the meat to be cooked through and getting a little bit of color on it. While that’s happening, let’s get those potatoes ready! Put your peeled and quartered potatoes in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Bring that to a boil and let them cook until they’re fork-tender, which usually takes about **15 to 20 minutes** too. Timing is pretty perfect here!
Once the potatoes are cooked, drain them really well and put them back in the hot pot. Add your milk and butter and start mashing! Get them nice and smooth, or leave them a little lumpy if that’s how you roll (I like mine pretty smooth for this!). Finally, stir in your shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, and sliced green onions. Stir until that cheese is all melty and gooey and everything is combined and smelling amazing. By now, your meat should be done! Pull it out of the oven and serve it up right alongside those incredible cheesy loaded mashed potatoes. Dinner is served!
Tips for a Perfect Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake
Want to make this bake absolutely sing? Here are a few little tricks I’ve picked up. First off, make sure your meat is in a single layer on that baking sheet. Seriously, overcrowding is the enemy of good browning! Give everything space. For the mashed potatoes, don’t overwork them once you add the cheese and stuff – just stir until everything’s melted and combined. And always, always taste and adjust your seasonings at the end. A little extra salt or pepper can make a world of difference!
Serving Suggestions for Your Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake
Okay, so you’ve got this amazing Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake with Cheesy Loaded Mashed Potatoes ready to go. It’s basically a meal all on its own, but if you want to round things out or add a little extra something, here are a few easy ideas. A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette is always a winner – it cuts through the richness nicely. Or, some steamed or roasted green beans or broccoli would be perfect! They’re quick, healthy, and add a lovely pop of color to your plate. Keep it simple, the star of the show is definitely the bake!
Storing and Reheating
Got leftovers? Lucky you! This Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake actually reheats pretty well. Just make sure to store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge within two hours of cooking. They’ll keep happily for about 3-4 days. When you’re ready for round two, the best way to reheat is in the oven at around 300-325°F until everything is heated through. You can also microwave it, but the oven helps keep the meat from drying out and the cheesy potatoes nice and creamy. Add a splash of milk to the mashed potatoes before microwaving if they seem a little dry!
Frequently Asked Questions About This Bake
Okay, I know you might have a few questions pop up while you’re making this amazing Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake. Totally normal! Here are some common ones and my best answers:
Can I use different cuts of meat in this Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake?
Absolutely! Sirloin and chicken breasts are great because they cook relatively quickly and evenly. But if you have, say, chicken thighs on hand, they’d work beautifully (they might just need a couple extra minutes in the oven). For steak, you could try flank steak or even a tougher cut if you slice it thinly against the grain before cubing. Just make sure whatever you choose, you cut it into similar-sized pieces so everything cooks at the same rate!
Can I make the Cheesy Loaded Mashed Potatoes ahead of time?
You can! If you’re really trying to save time, you can boil and mash the potatoes up to a day ahead. Just hold off on adding the cheese, bacon, and green onions. Store the plain mashed potatoes in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, gently reheat them on the stovetop (you might need a splash more milk) and then stir in all the cheesy, bacony goodness. They’ll be almost as good as fresh!
How do I know when the Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake is cooked through?
The best way to tell is to check the internal temperature of both the chicken and the steak. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), and for steak, it depends on your preference, but for medium, you’re looking around 135-140°F (57-60°C). Visually, the chicken shouldn’t be pink in the center, and the steak cubes should look cooked through with slightly browned edges. Trust your eyes and a meat thermometer if you have one!
Estimated Nutritional Information
Just a quick note about the nutritional info for this Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake with Cheesy Loaded Mashed Potatoes! Based on the ingredients in the recipe, one serving is roughly around **850 calories**. You’re looking at about **55g of fat** (with about **20g being saturated fat**), **40g of carbohydrates** (around **3g of sugar** and **5g of fiber**), and a solid **55g of protein**. Sodium is around **850mg**, and cholesterol is about **200mg**. Keep in mind, these are just estimates! The exact numbers can totally change depending on the specific brands you use, how much salt you add, and the exact cuts of meat. It gives you a general idea though!
Share Your Experience
Well, there you have it! My absolute favorite Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake with Cheesy Loaded Mashed Potatoes. I really hope you give this one a try! If you do make it, please, please come back and tell me all about it. Did you love it as much as I do? Did you make any fun tweaks? I’d seriously love to hear about your experience in the comments below! And hey, if you feel like it, leaving a star rating on the recipe is a huge help and makes my day!
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Epic Garlic Parmesan Chicken & Steak Bake: 850 Calorie Comfort
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
A hearty one-pan bake featuring chicken and steak with a garlic parmesan coating, served alongside cheesy loaded mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound sirloin steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- 2 green onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large bowl, combine steak and chicken cubes. In a small bowl, whisk together Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, olive oil, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Pour over meat and toss to coat evenly.
- Spread the coated meat in a single layer on a large baking sheet.
- Roast for 15-20 minutes, or until meat is cooked through and lightly browned.
- While the meat is roasting, prepare the mashed potatoes. Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- Drain potatoes and return to the pot. Add milk and butter. Mash until smooth.
- Stir in cheddar cheese, bacon, and green onions until cheese is melted.
- Serve the garlic parmesan chicken and steak bake with the cheesy loaded mashed potatoes.
Notes
- You can substitute other cuts of steak or chicken.
- Adjust seasonings to your preference.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic parmesan coating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 850
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 55g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 55g
- Cholesterol: 200mg
Keywords: chicken, steak, garlic parmesan, cheesy mashed potatoes, one-pan