Ultra Lazy Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake
Recipe video above. One for all those busy nights - a complete HEALTHY meal all made in one baking dish. 5 minutes prep, pop it in the oven, then out comes perfectly cooked chicken and broccoli pasta bake smothered in a creamy sauce. Serves 4 - 5.
- Prep time
- 10 min
- Cook time
- 35 min
- Yield
- 5 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 400g / 14 oz chicken tenderloin (raw) (, breast or thigh, cut into 1.5cm / 3/5" pieces)
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme ((or other herbs and/or spices of choice))
- 250g / 8 oz spiral pasta, uncooked ((See Note 1 for other shapes))
- 1/4 cup flour ((all purpose / plain))
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth/stock (, warmed)
- 2 cups milk (, warmed (any fat %))
- 1 large garlic clove (, minced)
- 2 tbsp / 30g unsalted butter (, recommended but optional)
- 1 large broccoli ( or 2 medium broccoli or cauliflower, broken into small to medium florets (Note 2 for subs))
- 1 1/2 cups (tightly packed) shredded cheddar or colby cheese ((or tasty cheese, pizza mix etc, Note 3))
Instructions
- 1
Preheat oven to 200°C/390°F (180°C fan-forced).
- 2
Sprinkle chicken with salt (be generous), pepper and thyme, toss to coat.
- 3
Spread pasta in a 23 x 33cm / 9 x 13" baking dish. Sprinkle flour all across the surface (don't dump in clump else it won't dissolve). Pour over milk and broth, add garlic and butter. Stir.
- 4
Spread chicken over the top, then broccoli.
- 5
Cover with foil, bake for 15 minutes (or 20 minutes if milk & broth were cold).
- 6
Remove foil, STIR WELL. Add most of the cheese, then STIR WELL again. Top with remaining cheese.
- 7
Return to oven. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes until top is golden and sauce is thickened (See note 4 for troubleshooting).
- 8
Stand for a few minutes then serve immediately!