Experienced cooks will raise their eyebrows when they see how this HEALTHY Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake is made. But don’t judge until you try it – it works!!! Made from scratch, not a drop of cream, this is a complete meal that takes 5 minutes to prep, made in ONE baking dish and it’s absolutely delish. {350 cal per serving!}
The World’s EASIEST Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake!
This is comfort food for busy people, dedicated to all those back home in Australia and everyone else around the world suffering through a blustery cold winter!
The method I use for this Ultra Lazy Healthy Chicken Pasta Bake certainly is unorthodox. Just plonk flour, uncooked pasta, raw chicken, vegetables, milk and chicken broth into the baking dish, give it a quick stir, then pop it into the oven. Pull it out partway through cooking, stir through cheese, then finish baking.
And what comes out is quite extraordinary. When you crack through that golden topping, you will be greeted with perfectly cooked pasta smothered in a creamy sauce that you’ve just made without a single drop of cream, without having to make a roux on the stove the traditional way béchamel and cheese sauces are made.
Not a hint of flouriness (thanks to the gluten in the pasta which also helps thicken the sauce) and the pasta is perfectly cooked – I blame my Japanese mother for raising me as a total snob about overcooked rice and this snobbery extends to pasta. There is actually sauce (hands up if you’ve suffered through dry pasta bakes!), and it’s a complete meal that’s light on the pasta, and heavy on broccoli + lean chicken.
I’m going to be completely honest with you about the difference between this and the traditional way of making creamy pasta bakes. My “go to” way is to start with a roux – like in this Seafood Gratin Pasta Bake, my Baked Mac and Cheese and my mother’s Chicken and Mushroom Macaroni Gratin ( <<— Childhood favourite, right here!). The sauce is silken and there’s more of it compared to this Ultra Lazy way.
If you look very closely, you will see that the sauce is a tiny bit split on the base of the baking dish. But you need to look really close to see it and it doesn’t taste split.
Very, very small compromise for a quick meal, in my humble view. 🙂
(Here’s a close up – you can see what I am describing in the bottom left corner)
I didn’t create this Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake as a hack. It came about because of a man who lives in his van at the local dog park who I regularly take hot meals to. He always insists that I mustn’t go out of my way to bring him meals, and that in itself plus me being me just feels some sort of obligation to ensure I take meals to him regularly.
I had skipped a few days and I was standing in my kitchen, flustered at the mound of dirty dishes and peeved because of a failed video shoot and wanted to make something quickly.
Threw this Ultra Lazy Pasta Bake together using leftover vegetables thinking it “should be ok”, was blown away how well it actually worked, got the thumbs up from the homeless man, had it myself for dinner then decided to share it here. 🙂 – Nagi x
More big, juicy pasta bakes
Baked Ziti – the mother of all pasta bakes!
Tuna Pasta Bake – the highest and best use for canned tuna!
Baked Mac and Cheese – and try the Shrimp version!
Cheeseburger Casserole (Homemade Hamburger Helper)
Browse all pasta recipes
Watch how to make it
Ultra Lazy HEALTHY Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake recipe video!
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Ultra Lazy Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 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
- Preheat oven to 200°C/390°F (180°C fan-forced).
- Sprinkle chicken with salt (be generous), pepper and thyme, toss to coat.
- 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.
- Spread chicken over the top, then broccoli.
- Cover with foil, bake for 15 minutes (or 20 minutes if milk & broth were cold).
- Remove foil, STIR WELL. Add most of the cheese, then STIR WELL again. Top with remaining cheese.
- Return to oven. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes until top is golden and sauce is thickened (See note 4 for troubleshooting).
- Stand for a few minutes then serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
More chicken and broccoli recipes
For those of you who, like me, find yourself putting both of these in your trolley week after week…
Life of Dozer
I always joke about how when I’m away, Dozer doesn’t miss me at all because he’s too busy enjoying his own holiday with a Golden Retriever boarder.
But apparently, when she takes Dozer to the beach, he breaks away from the pack and sprints up to “dark haired people of my shape”, then bolts back when he realises it’s not me.
I didn’t know what to react to first – pleased as punch at the first sign that he does actually seem to miss me, or bursting into laughter at her delicately phrased description that Dozer only runs towards vertically challenged, dark haired women with generously sized bottoms!!!
Hi nagi,
Is there a way to use a rotisserie chicken in this recipe?
We had no problem using leftover chicken!
Hi Nagi! First off Merry Christmas! I cooked your recipe with chicken breasts (even though my Dad suggested your other option using thighs for flavor). I don’t cook that often but thought I’d try yours. Do you have any recommendations to avoid the pasta coming out hard (undercooked)?
I made this last night and it was easy and very tasty and I have lots of leftovers for another few meals. I’m really enjoying your blog – I appreciate the time you must put into it and I enjoy reading your ‘voice’.
I’d like to make this ahead of time and bring over to a friend’s house 1 hour away. Does this recipe reheat well? Or should I cook partially and drive over and finish cooking there?
Hi Ashley! Best to cook completely then reheat there 🙂
I made this doubled the ingredients and it’s still raw. What am I doing wrong ?
I even doubled time.
Hi Niki, if you double this recipe but don’t use a larger pan, it will affect how it cooks. I’m sorry to say!
Time suggestion for doubled recipe and same size pan? Going on 40 minutes before adding the cheese…
I’d suggest using 2 pans so it’s not too deep! Then about 10 minutes extra, both in the oven together. 🙂 N x
Absolutely delicious receipe will never go back too my other way of making sauce thank you for posting this!
That’s terrific to hear Carla, thanks for letting me know! N x ❤️
I stumbled across your Recipe Tin web-site this afternoon and made your ultra-easy chicken and broccoli tonight. Easy & delicious. Thank you Nagi.
My wife is gluten-intolerant and so I used GF plain flour and GF pasta, but it still worked well – just needed 25 minutes rather than 15-20 for the 2nd bake to thicken the sauce.
Tomorrow I’ll try your roast pumpkin and feta salad.
Michael
That’s wonderful to hear Michael, thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this! N x ❤️
This is delicious! So fast and easy and everyone loved it!
Love hearing that Toni! So glad you enjoyed this – N x ❤️
Hi,
I think I must be blind but I can’t see how much flour to sprinkle over the pasta. Please help! 🙂
Last ingredient in the ingredients list! N xx
bottom of ingredients list, 1/4 cup!
😘
I made this recipe this evening. Luckily I had all of the ingredients on hand. It was delicious. The only thing I would change would be the second baking time. I did it until it started to brown, about 10-15 minutes longer. Thank you so much.
WHOOT WHOOT!!! 🙌🏻
Hi there!
Should the chicken be cooked prior to baking in oven? I saw it mentioned raw/uncooked spiral pasta but it did not specify on the chicken.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Michelle! Raw pasta and raw chicken! N x
I made this for my family last night and it was a total hit! Everyone had seconds and I plan to hoard the leftovers for my self! I was truly surprised how everything came together with the pasta and chicken going in uncooked! Delicious, fast, healthy, & family friendly! Will definitely be making this again!
Thanks! You just answered my question. Chicken and pasta go in uncooked!? Any suggestions are much appreciated.
That’s wonderful to hear Kate! Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this – N x ❤️
I want to make this tonight but then I read the part where it reads “thanks to the gluten in the pasta” in regards to the sauce. I’m gluten free so I planned on using gluten free pasta but not so sure I should try it?
Hi Stephanie, it will still work because of the flour in the milk 🙂 The sauce will probably not stick to the pasta quite as well as with normal pasta, but it’s no different to any pasta dish made with GF pasta 🙂 N x
Can I substitute milk with almond milk?
That should be fine Whitney! 🙂
Can i use linguini noodles instead? If so should I break them? Or leave thrn full?
Hi Maddy! I think the noodles will stick together, it’s best to use a short shaped pasta for this one 🙂
I used 16 oz noodles so thought that I should double the recipe. But I ended up using only 3c chicken broth and 1.5 c milk, 2 -3 c cheese (handfuls so no exact measurement), 1/2 c flour, 4 tbsp butter and after 40 mins cooking there was way too much liquid still. I’m wondering if I use more noodles how do i adjust the recipe to use 16 oz (a while box) vs 8 oz. thanks!
Hi Marie! Just scale up the recipe by hovering your curser over the Servings! It will change all the ingredients for you 🙂 N x
I meant 2.5 c milk
Can I top this with bread crumbs or ritz crackers?
Absolutely!!!
Delicious! The ultimate comfort food. My wife and I ate it for 3 days and it was still delicious:) used tri-colored pasta to make it fun!
That’s great Amanda! I’m so pleased to hear that, thanks for taking the time to leave a review! N x
Making this shortly and considering adding a bit of curry powder and omitting the thyme? What do you think?
Sure thing! Adjust to your taste! 🙂
I am going to make this recipe tonight for a friend who had surgery. I will bring it to her tomorrow for dinner, but I will have to put it in the fridge after cooking. Any ideas what I should recommend to her for reheating directions?
Hi Cari! Just microwave is fine. I hope your friend makes a quick recovery, how lucky she is to have you for a friend!