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Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake

Prep 20 min Cook 30 min Difficulty 3/5

Easy creamy chicken and broccoli pasta bake: simple ingredients, weeknight-friendly, 50 minutes total. Serves 4.

Why this recipe works

This creamy chicken and broccoli pasta bake is a quick, comforting one-dish meal that feeds four and works well for weeknights. It suits home cooks who want a simple assembly, easy swaps, and reliable leftovers. Prep takes about 20 minutes and the oven finishes the dish—perfect when you need a hands-off, satisfying dinner.

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Key takeaways

Assemble in 20 minutes, bake 15–20 minutes
Use rotisserie chicken to cut prep time
Keep pasta slightly undercooked so it stays firm after baking

Recipe guide

This creamy chicken and broccoli pasta bake is a quick, comforting one-dish meal that feeds four and works well for weeknights. It suits home cooks who want a simple assembly, easy swaps, and reliable leftovers. Prep takes about 20 minutes and the oven finishes the dish—perfect when you need a hands-off, satisfying dinner.

A straightforward, family-friendly pasta bake you can assemble in 20 minutes.

  • Assemble in 20 minutes, bake 15–20 minutes
  • Use rotisserie chicken to cut prep time
  • Keep pasta slightly undercooked so it stays firm after baking

Ingredients — simplified and scaled

Ingredients (serves 4): 8 oz pasta; 2 cups cooked shredded chicken; 1 cup broccoli florets; 1 medium onion, diced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 tbsp butter; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella); 1/2 cup milk; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper.

Step-by-step method

1) Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). 2) Cook pasta in salted boiling water until just shy of al dente; drain. 3) Steam or blanch broccoli until tender-crisp. 4) Sauté onion in olive oil + butter over medium 4 minutes, add garlic 30 seconds. 5) Add milk, simmer gently and stir in half the cheese until smooth; season. 6) Toss pasta, chicken, broccoli and sauce; transfer to baking dish, top with remaining cheese. 7) Bake 15–20 minutes until bubbly and golden; rest 5 minutes before serving.

Tips, swaps and make-ahead notes

Quick swaps: use rotisserie chicken; frozen broccoli (thaw or steam first); half-and-half for richer sauce. Make-ahead: assemble, refrigerate up to 24 hours, add 5–10 minutes to bake time. To crisp top, broil 1–2 minutes at the end, watching closely.

Ingredients

  • 8 oz pasta
  • 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup shredded cheese
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until just shy of al dente, drain and set aside.
  3. Steam or blanch broccoli florets until tender-crisp, then drain.
  4. Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat.
  5. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
  6. Stir in minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  7. Pour in milk, bring to a gentle simmer, then stir in half the shredded cheese until melted and smooth.
  8. Season sauce with salt and black pepper, adjust to taste.
  9. Toss cooked pasta, shredded chicken, broccoli, and sauce together until evenly coated.
  10. Transfer mixture to a baking dish, sprinkle remaining cheese over the top.
  11. Bake until bubbly and cheese is golden, about 15–20 minutes.
  12. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

FAQs

Can I use store-bought cooked chicken? Yes — use rotisserie or leftover roasted chicken, shredded. About 2 cups cooked equals one medium chicken breast + thigh or a small rotisserie portion.
How do I prevent the pasta from becoming mushy? Pasta should be just shy of al dente before baking so it finishes in the oven without getting mushy. If using very quick-cooking pasta, reduce boiling time by 1–2 minutes.
Can I change the milk or make the sauce thicker? Substitute half-and-half for milk for a richer sauce, or use low-fat milk and add 1 tbsp flour when sautéing onions to thicken if you prefer a thicker sauce.