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!
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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!!!
Whole family loved this recipe. I did half broccoli and cauliflower. Our 4 year old ate every thing on his plate!!!
Now that is the BEST compliment!! N x
I was very doubtful this would work, it was awesome!!! Best I ever made!!!
Wahoo! That’s great Sean! N x
Hi Nagi and Dozer how are you? We have a beautiful Retriever too! He is all white! Wonderful companions and he adores our little Grandson.
Nagi I love your recipes and have tried to subscribe but it doesn’t work Can we still subscribe ? Regards Tracey
Hi Tracey, give your pup a big belly rub from me!! You should be receiving a confirmation email – have you tried checking your junk/spam folder? N x
Delicious! So tasty, I had seconds! Thank you for sharing such a wonderful dish. I swapped the thyme for Italian herbs and it was perfect.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Kate!! N x
Long time cooker of your excellent recipes, first time commenter. I made this yesterday when I was feeling totally exhausted using stuff left over in our fridge and gluten free pasta and flour. I was SO skeptical, even when I took it out halfway to stir and I told my two guinea pigs not to expect much. BUT!!! This turned out absolutely perfectly – it was so delicious and comforting. And guinea pigs were both very impressed and got seconds, which is the usual reaction when I cook your recipes. Thank you for this and many other happy meals with scraped clean plates at the end!!
I’m so glad you gave a go Alex, that’s great to know it worked with GF subs as well!! N x
The flavor of this was great! I struggled with the noodles not being done fully but I’m going to try again and par-bake my noodles before I start!
Hi Elsa, sorry you had issues here – did you use the same type of pasta as the recipe? N x
Hi, do you think this would work in the slow cooker? We are in FNQ where it is too hot to turn on the oven. I love the idea of putting the pasta in uncooked. Thanks
Hi Emma, the recipe as written will only work in the oven unfortunately! N x
I only have half and half on hand, can I substitute for the milk?!
Hi Jennifer, I would use 1.5 cups of half and half and 1/2 cup of water in place of milk – N x
Such an easy tasty recipe I’m inspired to try more . You doubt this will be so good but honestly it is 🙂 thank you.
Thanks so much Sandra, I’m so happy you enjoyed it! N x
What cheese would you recommend? Mozzarella?
Hi Danielle, I talk about this in the recipe notes – N x
Can you use frozen broccoli? Would you recommend I cook it first and add it in step 7?
Hi Kelly, I talk about this in the recipe notes – N x
Hi, is there any chance I could make this without the cheese?
Hi,
I cook for homeless people too. I usually make extras of dishes, then divide them up into individual dinners. I put them in my cooler to stay warm and drive around til I see someone who needs them. I also take cookies and water. So much need and when they start to eat immediately, I know they were hungry. I am so glad to hear that you also feel the same.
Could you do this recipe with already cooked chicken – I have all ingredients but the chicken I have is a rotisserie chicken already cooked.
You can Lorna, I would just add it at step 7 when you add the cheese – N x
Hi- ready to try this one! What size baking dish?
Is it possible to use no-boil noodles in this dish? If so, would it be the same amount of liquid added.
Hi Andrea, what no boil noodles are you referring to? – N x
I want to try it with whole grain pasta. Any recommendations on time adjustment for that recipe change?
Hi Cynthia, that will be fine – as long as the cook time on the packet is the same 🙂
Excellent recipe, yummy and quick!!
Perfect! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Michelle!
Hey Nagi, how do you think this would be with mushrooms instead of broccoli? My boyfriend doesn’t eat anything green 🤪
I wasn’t expecting much, but yum! So comforting and good! I did have to cook it longer (even with warm milk) before adding cheese, and then for 20 mins after cheese (uncovered) – but so worth it! I used mostly cheddar and mixed in some Parmesan. Before serving I sprinkled it with paprika.
Very satisfying. Thank you!
Hi Karen, I’m so glad it worked for you!