Chicken Alfredo Baked Penne

8 ounces penne noodles (I used a combination of white and whole wheat)
2-3 chicken breasts, salted and peppered
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
3 cups heavy cream or milk (I used fat free half & half)
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese, divided
1 teaspoon garlic powder
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add penne noodles to a large pot, cover noodles with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil until easily pierced with a fork. Drain and set aside.

Pound chicken to 1/2 inch thickness and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook in a greased skillet over medium heat 5-6 minutes on each side until cooked through. Chop into 1 inch pieces and set aside.

In the skillet where you cooked the chicken (you can just wipe it out with a paper towel to get rid of any leftover tidbits from he chicken) melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, sprinkle flour over the butter and stir til it clumps together. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Stir in garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste (I used about 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper) Add 1/3 cup parmesan cheese and stir until melted and completely incorporated.

In a large bowl combine cooked penne, chicken, and the sauce and stir to combine. Transfer mixture to a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese. Bake for 10-15 minutes until cheese is melty and begins to brown around the edges.