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    Home » Recipes » Pasta

    Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Published: Sep 22, 2020 · Modified: Aug 3, 2022 by Beth Sachs · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases · 12 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Chicken and broccoli pasta bake pin.

    An easy and cheesy chicken and broccoli pasta bake with a crispy breadcrumb topping.

    Perfect for busy weeknights, I guarantee the whole family will love this hearty and filling pasta bake recipe!

    Pasta bake in a gratin dish with a bowl of the pasta bake and glass of water.

    My kids love pasta bakes. There's something just so comforting about gooey cheesy pasta, especially during the colder months when the evenings are dark and chilly and you want a hug-in-a bowl type dish.

    Like pasta bakes? Try my chicken fajita pasta bake too!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why should you try it?
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭 Top tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • 🧊 Suitable for freezing?
    • ❓ FAQS
    • 😋Related recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why should you try it?

    • Can be made the night before so perfect for busy weeknights
    • Filling and hearty
    • A great base recipe for different flavours
    • Can be easily doubled to feed a crowd

    🥘 Ingredients

    • Penne Pasta - a great shape for pasta bakes because it holds cheese sauces well.
    • Chicken Breasts - 1 large chicken breast cut into small chunks.
    • Bacon - smoked bacon rashers add a depth of flavour to the pasta bake.
    • Garlic - a great flavour enhancer.
    • Broccoli - increases the nutritional value of the dish and adds texture..
    • Butter - the base of the cheese sauce. I usually use salted butter for cheese sauces.
    • Flour - plain flour helps thicken the sauce.
    • Milk - use semi skimmed milk to keep the calories down.
    • Cheese - grated extra mature cheddar is best for flavour.
    • Pesto - helps give the cheese sauce a herby boost.
    • Mustard - brings the cheesy flavour out.
    • Panko Breadcrumbs - for the crispy breadcrumb topping
    • Parmesan - adds flavour to the crunchy topping.
    • Dried Thyme - adds a lovely subtle herby flavour to the topping.
    • Salt & Pepper - for seasoning.

    🔪 Instructions

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    Making the chicken and broccoli pasta bake is so easy!

    One: Melt the butter in a large pan and add the garlic, bacon, and chicken. Fry for a few minutes until the chicken changes colour. Add the flour and stir for 2 minutes, then gradually stir in the milk (keep stirring to prevent lumps forming). Simmer until the sauce thickens.

    Two: Take the sauce off the heat and add the grated cheddar, pesto, and mustard. Give it a good stir until the cheese is melted.

    Three: Boil the pasta and add the broccoli florets 3 minutes before the end of cooking. Drain and add to the cheese sauce. Mix everything together.

    Four: Pour the pasta into an ovenproof dish and sprinkle over the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and dried thyme. Bake in the oven for 20 - 25 minutes.

    Step by step photo instruction collage for making the pasta bake.

    💭 Top tips

    • Continually stir the cheese sauce whilst it simmers, to help prevent lumps forming. It will only take a few minutes to thicken.
    • Boil the pasta until al-dente as it will continue to cook in the oven. You don't want mushy pasta!
    • Place your ovenproof dish on a baking sheet in case the cheese sauce bubbles over when baking it.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    I usually serve the chicken and broccoli pasta bake with a green salad and garlic bread or focaccia. If the kids are REALLY starving I might even make a batch of my roast sweet potatoes to go with it!

    As I work from home, I often reheat leftovers for lunch the next day. It's so comforting and warming on a cold and chilly day.

    📖 Variations

    • Up the vegetables by adding peas and sweetcorn to the chicken pasta bake. Just add a handful of each into the cheese sauce at the same time as you add the cooked pasta and broccoli.
    • Vary the cheeses. Crumbled blue cheese in the sauce makes a more adult version of the pasta bake, or use half cheddar and half blue cheese.
    • Make it vegetarian friendly by using Quorn pieces instead of the chicken breasts and vegetarian bacon. Omit the grated Parmesan from the topping and use vegetarian hard cheese.
    • A handful of chopped parsley and basil added to the cheese sauce, gives it a lovely herby flavour.
    • Smoky chorizo instead of bacon is another delicious ingredient substitution. I love the paprika flavours it injects into a dish, like in my chorizo mac and cheese recipe.
    A bowl of chicken pasta bake with green salad.

    🥡 Storage

    The pasta bake can be made the night before (or even 2 nights before) and stored in the fridge. If you're baking the dish straight from the fridge, you will need to add 5-10 minutes to the cooking time, to ensure it's cooked through.

    Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave.

    🧊 Suitable for freezing?

    The pasta bake can be made up to the point of baking it in the oven, and then frozen for future use. When you are ready to eat it, take the pasta bake out of the freezer and let it defrost for a couple of hours on the side, before putting it in the oven. The cooking time may need to be increased by 5-10 minutes.

    ❓ FAQS

    Can I use frozen broccoli?

    Frozen broccoli can be used in the pasta bake. Just add it to the pasta at the same time as you would the fresh broccoli.

    Can I use a different pasta shape?

    Yes, why not try fusilli, rigatoni, farfalle, or macaroni pasta instead? Or, do what I do sometimes and use a mixture of different shapes to help use up those nearly finished bags of pasta in my pantry.

    😋Related recipes

    Some more baked pasta recipes you might like;

    • Chorizo Mac and Cheese - add smoky chorizo to your mac and cheese, for a Spanish style twist on this family favourite pasta dish. 
    • Easy Lasagne - a quick and easy lasagne recipe made with a cheat’s white sauce, ready in just 45 minutes! Delicious comfort food the whole family will love.
    • Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Bake - pizza in pasta form!
    • Chorizo and Pepper Pasta - smoky, tasty and made in just 30 minutes!
    • Smoky Meatball Pasta Bake - made with store-bought meatballs and flavoured with smoked paprika.

    🍽️ More family-friendly recipes

    • Easy Air Fryer Mac and Cheese Recipe
    • Cheesy Slow Cooker Tortellini Recipe
    • Cheesy Leftover Turkey Pasta Bake Recipe
    • Easy Leftover Gammon & Pea Pasta Recipe

    Recipe

    A bowl of chicken broccoli pasta bake.
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    5 from 14 votes

    Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake

    An easy and cheesy chicken and broccoli pasta bake with a crispy breadcrumb topping. Perfect for busy weeknights, I guarantee the whole family will love this hearty and filling pasta bake recipe!
    Course Pasta
    Cuisine British, Italian
    Keyword chicken and broccoli pasta bake, chicken pasta bake
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes
    Servings 5
    Calories 684kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Oven Proof Baking Dish
    • Saucepan
    • Kitchen Scales

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 50 g Butter
    • 2 Garlic Cloves chopped
    • 1 Chicken Breast chopped
    • 3 Bacon Rashers chopped (I use smoked bacon)
    • 50 g Plain Flour
    • 600 ml Milk
    • 200 g Cheddar grated
    • 1 teaspoon Mustard
    • 1 tablespoon Pesto
    • 200 g Pasta
    • 1 Broccoli broken into florets
    • Salt and Pepper

    For the topping

    • 4 tablespoon Panko Breadcrumbs
    • 2 tablespoon Parmesan grated
    • 1 teaspoon Thyme dried

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 200°c (180 fan/ 400F/ Gas 6).
    • Bring a pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Add the broccoli florets for the last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain and set aside.
    • In a large pan melt the butter, then add the garlic, bacon and chicken and fry for a couple of minutes until the chicken changes colour. Stir in the flour and cook out for 2 minutes. Gradually stir in the milk and simmer until the sauce thickens. You will need to stir the sauce continuously to prevent it from becoming lumpy.
    • Take the sauce off the heat and stir in the grated cheddar, pesto and mustard, along with some salt and pepper. Add the cooked pasta and broccoli to the sauce and stir to coat.
    • Pour the pasta mix into an ovenproof dish.
    • Mix together the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the top of the pasta bake.
    • Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbling.

    Notes

    The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
    Nutrition Facts
    Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    684
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    33
    g
    51
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    14
    g
    88
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    127
    mg
    42
    %
    Sodium
     
    619
    mg
    27
    %
    Potassium
     
    906
    mg
    26
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    60
    g
    20
    %
    Fiber
     
    5
    g
    21
    %
    Sugar
     
    10
    g
    11
    %
    Protein
     
    39
    g
    78
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1486
    IU
    30
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    110
    mg
    133
    %
    Calcium
     
    555
    mg
    56
    %
    Iron
     
    4
    mg
    22
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Tried this recipe?Snap a pic and tag @effortlessf00d on Instagram or Twitter

    More Easy Pasta Recipes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Janice

      September 22, 2020 at 11:40 am

      5 stars
      It's a bleak kind of day today and this is exactly what I want to eat! A lovely pasta bake with the bonus of included vegetables!

      Reply
    2. Lizet

      September 22, 2020 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      We love confort food. We are trying this cheesy chicken pasta tonight. I hope it looks as delicious as yours!

      Reply
    3. Jess

      September 22, 2020 at 1:21 pm

      5 stars
      This is the perfect fall meal! I love making a double batch so I can freeze one for later to pull out on those busy soccer nights!

      Reply
      • Andrea Metlika

        September 22, 2020 at 6:01 pm

        5 stars
        I never knew mustard could bring out the cheesiness of a dish. This is delicious!

        Reply
    4. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      September 22, 2020 at 1:28 pm

      5 stars
      Love a good pasta bake and this one is so comforting and easy to do. Perfect for busy evenings.

      Reply
    5. Clara

      September 22, 2020 at 1:29 pm

      I love a good casserole and this chicken brocoli cheese dish was delish, the perfect hearty dinner for these cooler days.

      Reply
    6. Beth

      September 22, 2020 at 1:39 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy! My son is going to love this recipe! I can't wait to make this!

      Reply
    7. Chloe Edges

      September 22, 2020 at 4:48 pm

      5 stars
      Looks lovely Beth and I say that even as not a huge fan of broccoli!

      Reply
    8. Emily Liao

      September 22, 2020 at 7:18 pm

      Loved how easy this was to make! The whole family loved it.

      Reply
    9. Suzy

      September 22, 2020 at 7:21 pm

      5 stars
      Really love everything about this pasta bake! The topping is such a nice addition to the chicken and broccoli!

      Reply
    10. Christian Guzman

      September 22, 2020 at 7:59 pm

      5 stars
      This is going to be perfect for the weekend when my niece and nephews are over. I will need to make enough for seconds!

      Reply
    11. Priya Lakshminarayan

      September 22, 2020 at 8:08 pm

      5 stars
      I am always up for a good pasta recipe! Thanks for sharing this one

      Reply

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    Beth Sachs Food Blogger

    Hi, I’m Beth, a Mum of three (and one crazy dog), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

    More about me →

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