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!!!
This is the 2nd recipe of yours I’ve tried and both worked perfectly! I was a bit apprehensive after the first 15 mins as some of the pasta looked undercooked. But magically it turned out fine! Such an easy one-pot meal!
So great to hear Lay!! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed this – N x
How long does the whole process take up?
Hi Oshadi! The recipe time is in the recipe card 🙂 N x
I only have long pasta in the cupboard…would that work?
I don’t think it’s suitable for this one Craig, sorry! 🙂 N x
I love everything about your recipes, Nagi. You’re a lifesaver !! I began to get uninterested in cooking until I saw your recipes.
I’ve got this recipe in the oven now and tomorrow night I am cooking your Swedish Meatballs for the second time. My kids LOVE this !!
Thank you so much !!
I’m so pleased to hear that Tara! Hope you love this – and I’m glad the meatballs were a hit too! N xx
Awesome and soooo easy!! My kids LOVE it!!
PS… I added fresh mushrooms
Love hearing that Heather! So pleased you enjoyed this so much! N xx
Would this work with shredded/chunked rotisserie chicken instead of raw?
YES!
Think this can be prepped a day ahead and sit overnight in the fridge?
Hi Ashley! If you do that, I’d drizzle over 1/2 cup of milk or water before baking 🙂 N x
Wonderful dish! I was looking for an alternative to using condensed soup. This will be a base for many dishes in the future! In additional to the salt and pepper, I sprinkled paprika and curry on the chicken. Only issue was that I ate too much of it! 🙂
I LOVE hearing that Heather! Thanks so much for letting me know! N xx
Awesome recipe, will make it again for dinner today.
LOVE HEARING THAT Veronica! N x ❤️
Glad I discovered your site tonight 🙂
Got one of these in the oven now, cant wait to get into it
Arigato Kozai Mas Nagi
Hope you love it Michael! N x
Got one in the oven right now !!
glad I discovered you online
Arigato kozai mas 🙂
😇 N x
Looks like a great recipe! You mention gluten pasta, what would happen if you use gluten free pasta? My son is allergic to eggs and the gluten free pasta is egg free so that’s what we use for him…
I added onion and mushrooms and it just needed to be cooked longer. Great recipe! Didnt need to go to the store even! Also I used the “better than bouillon” chicken base for the stock. Really good.
That’s so great to hear Andie! Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed it! N x
Hi!! This looks soooo good! Can the all purpose flour be substituted for almond/rice flour?
Hi Andrea, I’m sorry to say I am not sure about that, please use your best judgement!
Hi. This looks great. I would like to double the recipe (to use a full 16 oz box of pasta), so I’m thinking I need to double the ingredients, but I’m concerned that there will be too much liquid for my baking dish. Do you think the sauce ingredients need to be doubled exactly? Thank you!
Hi Angela! I’d make 2 batches in separate pans 🙂 That will produce the best result – N x
This was so yummy! I added some garlic and onion powder and layered the broccoli and chicken exactly as stated in the recipe. I also mixed in asiago cheese to give the pasta a sharper taste. I used penne pasta and it turned out great! Will definitely make this again 🙂 So easy for busy weeknights. Thanks!
So glad you enjoyed this Kate! Thanks for letting me know! N xx
Yum!!!! It tastes like chicken Alfredo and the chicken texture is awesome! I also Added some carrots to this (microwaved them for 3 minutes, skipped butter, used skim milk, and whole wheat flour as well as whole grain spirals. I doubled the recipe completely and still cooked for about the same time bc I used 2 dishes. Thank you! Will def be making this all the time!
So glad you enjoyed this Cornelia! N x ❤️
Hi, this looks delicious! I was curious if this might work with rice? I’d appreciate your opinion, and if you think it would work how much rice would be needed.
Thanks!
Hi Shelby! I haven’t tried but have you seen my creamy chicken and broccoli rice bake?? 🙂
How would the recipe work for 1 lb of pasta (the whole box)? I’m guessing double the recipe? I don’t like leaving half boxes of pasta. Plus, more leftover!
HI Jenn! Yep double the recipe, use the recipe scaler by clicking on Servings 🙂 Oh, and it will take longer to cook, maybe an extra 10 minutes?
I made this last night using brown rice penne pasta. I can not believe how amazing this came out. Threw some panko on the top the last 5 minutes for some added crunch. This recipe will now be part of our weekly rotation. Even my super picky eaters loved it.
I was pretty amazed myself the first time I made it! 🙂 So glad everyone enjoyed this! N x