Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

Cheddar, chicken, and broccoli mingle to create a deliciously creamy casserole.

I love a good casserole recipe–especially one made with loads of gooey cheese and a crunchy topping.

Casseroles may be considered retro, but they’re never going to go out of style in this house. What other dish is going to come together easily, taste amazing, and only leave you with 2 dishes to wash when it’s all over? The answer: Very few.

If you’re looking for an easy, kid-friendly meal that also happens to be healthy, you’ve come to the right place.

I have a few rules when it comes to making a good casserole:

1. It has to be easy. This cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole comes together in just under an hour.
2. Cheese is a must. There’s nothing better than pulling a piping hot casserole out of the oven that’s dripping with gooey cheese. As we all know, cheese screams comfort.
3. A crunchy topping is always welcome. Cracking through the crunchy top layer to get to the creamy goodness is the best part.

I used my new favorite snack obsession, Pasta Chips, for the crunchy top layer of this casserole. If you’re not familiar with Pasta Chips, they’re all-natural baked chips made with semolina flour–the same flour they use to make pasta. Clever, eh? They offer four very addictive flavors: Garlic and Olive Oil, Marinara, Alfredo, and Sea Salt. They’re very similar to a cracker, only crunchier!

I topped this casserole with the Alfredo Pasta Chips. It pairs perfectly with the cheddar cheese I used to make the sauce. It lends a supreme crunch to the top of this casserole. A crunch that holds up to the creaminess of the dish without getting soggy.

I was able to make this dish healthier than the average casserole by using low-fat milk, whole wheat pasta, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and tons of fresh broccoli. The dish bakes up hearty, creamy, and filling.

Since kids love cheese, I’m betting they’ll go back for seconds.

You can find Pasta Chips in the deli or natural foods section of your local grocery store. Here’s a coupon for $1 off your next purchase.

Print Recipe

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

Cheddar, chicken, and broccoli mingle to create a deliciously creamy casserole.

Yield: 6 servings

Total Time: 60 minutes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces whole wheat pasta shells
• 2 large chicken breasts (about 1 pound), cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups low-fat milk (I used 2%)
• 4 heaping cups fresh broccoli, cut into small pieces
• 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup crushed Alfredo Pasta Chips

 

 

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch-by-13-inch casserole dish.
2. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Liberally season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the hot skillet. Brown the chicken on each side, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a heat-proof dish and set aside.
4. Turn the heat down to medium and add the butter to skillet. Once the butter is melted, add the chopped onions and garlic. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
5. Stir in the flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk.
6. Add the chopped broccoli to the milk mixture. Allow the mixture to come to a boil and thicken, about 5-7 minutes.
7. Stir in the dijon mustard, worcestershire sauce, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the pasta.
8. Transfer the mixture to your prepared casserole dish. Top with remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese and crushed pasta chip pieces.
9. Bake for 30 minutes, or until bubbly and lightly brown. Serve immediately.

All images and text ©One Sweet Mess.

Whipping up one of my recipes? I wanna know about it! Snap a photo and tag your post with #onesweetmess on Twitter or Instagram. Seeing your creations come to life makes my day!

If you like this recipe, then you’ll love these:

Southwestern Spaghetti Pie

Roasted Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

Disclosure: This recipe was developed for the amazing folks at Pasta Chips. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting my recipes and site while I work with brands I adore.