IRRESISTIBLE CHICKEN ALFREDO MONKEY BREAD

Making monkey bread is already a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, but can we elevate it to a savory, satisfying dinner, transforming it from a sweet treat into a culinary masterpiece?

The Alchemy of Alfredo: Unveiling the Science Behind the Dough

The key to a successful Chicken Alfredo Monkey Bread lies in understanding the science behind both the dough and the sauce. First, let’s talk dough. Most monkey bread recipes rely on a sweet dough, often enriched with sugar and butter. For a savory version, we need a more neutral base, one that complements the richness of the Alfredo. This means dialing back the sweetness and focusing on a balance of flour, yeast, water (or milk), and a touch of fat for tenderness. Yeast activation is also crucial; too cold and it won’t rise, too hot and it will die. Aim for lukewarm, around 105-115°F (40-46°C). Then there’s the Alfredo. A traditional Alfredo is an emulsion of butter, Parmesan cheese, and pasta water. The heat melts the butter, the cheese melts into the butter, and the pasta water, rich in starch, helps to bind everything together, creating a smooth, creamy sauce. For our monkey bread, we want a slightly thicker, more stable sauce, so we’ll be adding a touch of cream cheese. This not only enhances the flavor but also helps to prevent the sauce from becoming too runny and soaking the dough. Furthermore, by adding chicken, we need to ensure its thoroughly cooked and seasoned, adding an extra layer of flavor.

Chicken Alfredo Monkey Bread: The Recipe

Yields:

About 8-10 servings

Prep Time:

30 minutes

Cook Time:

35-40 minutes

Ingredients:

• For the Dough:
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup warm milk (105-115°F)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• For the Chicken Alfredo Filling:
• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Equipment:

• Large mixing bowl
• 9-inch bundt pan or tube pan
• Skillet

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the warm milk, olive oil, and egg. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until a shaggy dough forms.
2. Knead the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
3. Prepare the Chicken Alfredo Filling: While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Stir in heavy cream and cream cheese. Cook, stirring constantly, until the cream cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Add the shredded chicken and stir to combine.
4. Assemble the Monkey Bread: Punch down the risen dough and divide it into small, bite-sized pieces (about 1-inch each). Roll each piece into a ball. Dip each ball into the chicken Alfredo mixture, ensuring it’s well coated.
5. Layer in the Pan: Place the coated dough balls in a greased 9-inch bundt pan or tube pan, layering them evenly.
6. Second Rise: Cover the pan with plastic wrap and let rise for another 30 minutes.
7. Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. If the top starts to brown too quickly, cover loosely with foil.
8. Cool and Serve: Let the monkey bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a serving plate. Serve warm.

Adventures in Alfredo-land: The Investigation

The Soggy Bottom Blues

My first few attempts were a disaster. I envisioned a beautiful, pull-apart bread oozing with creamy Alfredo goodness. What I got instead was a soggy, undercooked mess. The dough, while flavorful, simply couldn’t hold up to the weight and moisture of the sauce. Like many of you, I initially thought more sauce was better. I was wrong. The bottom layer of dough became saturated, resulting in a gummy texture. This was not one of those easy interesting dinner recipes I was hoping for.

The Chicken Conundrum

Next, I grappled with the chicken. Initially, I tried using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for convenience. While it tasted fine, it lacked the punch I was looking for. The rotisserie chicken also dried out during baking which made the monkey bread less enjoyable. I needed to figure out how to keep the chicken juicy.

The ‘Aha!’ Moment: Cream Cheese Revelation

Then, I had an ‘Aha!’ moment during one of those funny dinners with the family where we were brainstorming ideas. Cream cheese! Not only would it add a delightful tang and richness to the Alfredo, but it would also act as a stabilizer, preventing the sauce from becoming too runny. This was particularly important, as I’d noticed the Parmesan cheese alone wasn’t providing enough structure. I was also inspired by how cream cheese is used in Creamy Garlic Parmesan Crockpot Chicken Irresistible and Chicken Parmesan Casserole recipes.

The Dough Dilemma: Taming the Rise

The dough also required some tweaking. I realized that the initial rise was too long, resulting in a dough that was too airy and prone to collapsing under the weight of the filling. Shortening the first rise and incorporating a second, shorter rise after assembling the monkey bread resulted in a more stable and evenly risen final product. When it comes to weird recipes dinner, this definitely became one of those experiments.

The Final Flourish: Perfectly Cooked Chicken

To address the chicken issue, I started cooking the chicken breasts myself, poaching them gently in broth with some garlic and herbs to infuse them with flavor and keep them incredibly moist. This made a world of difference. I also shredded the chicken finely, allowing it to distribute evenly throughout the Alfredo sauce. Now it was the perfect dinner ideas main dishes.

The Art of the Pull-Apart: A Foolproof Technique

Here’s the refined, foolproof method for achieving Chicken Alfredo Monkey Bread perfection:

1. Perfect the Dough: Use a simple, slightly enriched dough with a balanced ratio of flour, yeast, liquid, and fat. Avoid over-proofing the dough.
2. Craft a Creamy, Stable Alfredo: Incorporate cream cheese into your Alfredo sauce to create a thicker, more stable base. Season generously and use freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
3. Moist, Flavorful Chicken: Poach or bake your chicken breasts until just cooked through, then shred finely.
4. Balanced Filling: Dip each dough ball generously into the Alfredo sauce, ensuring even coating, but avoid overloading.
5. Strategic Layering: Arrange the coated dough balls evenly in a greased bundt pan, creating distinct layers.
6. Second Rise is Key: Allow the assembled monkey bread to rise for a second time to ensure a light and airy texture.
7. Bake to Golden Perfection: Bake at 350°F (175°C) until golden brown and cooked through. If browning too quickly, cover with foil.
8. Cool Slightly Before Inverting: Allow the monkey bread to cool in the pan for a few minutes before inverting it onto a serving plate. This prevents it from falling apart.

This Chicken Alfredo Monkey Bread is a fantastic option if you are looking for food to munch on or if you are planning easy meal prep. You might also like Cheesy Garlic Chicken Wraps, Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Bake, Creamy Garlic Chicken Gnocchi, or Honey Pepper Chicken Pasta.