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!!!
Claire says
The dog liked it without broccoli
Nagi says
😂
Sam says
I’ve made this twice already and it’s SO good! It’s now in my stash of quick meals to make if I’ve been working a long day or am just plain lazy but still want a healthy meal. The only difference I did was make it with cauliflower instead of chicken, because I had some that needed to be used up and it’s slightly less work than dealing with raw chicken. Both times I made it, it took about an hour and a half to cook (I guess my oven is very weak), so if you’re making this and it’s still runny after the time is up, fear not! Just bake it longer, it will work out!
Nagi says
That’s great to hear Sam! Thanks for letting me know! N xx
Donna says
I was a bit dubious when the recipe said no cream but I made this tonight and it was delicious! Love love love it. Will definitely add this to my recipe listm plenty if leftovers for work tok!!
Nagi says
Thank you for the review Donna, it’s so terrific to hear you enjoyed this! N xx
Jessica Castillo says
Hi should the pasta be precooked before pouring into the dish or pour it straight from the box?
Nagi says
Straight from the box, uncooked!
Rabecca says
Will vegetable broth taste good instead of chicken?
Nagi says
YES!
Rabecca says
Do you think this would work well with rice instead of pasta?
Nagi says
Now you have me thinking….
Victoria Elder says
I made it w/ leftover, cooked rice and it was great! Very moist & creamy. Hit it w/ some lemon pepper
(I have to have lemon pepper on my broc) and chopped onion since I had 1/3 of one already peeled waiting in the fridge. The chkn, rice & broc were all leftovers so this was an easy, great way to re-serve them in a tasty meal. Thanks again, Nagi! You da bomb!
Hilary says
I love you Nagi! No one else give the one pot dish the justice they deserve. I’m going to be using this as a base for so many combos.
Nagi says
That’s terrific to hear Hilary, thanks for leaving a review! N x
Renee Ridenhour says
I like the photo of you and your dog! Going to try this recipe with edamame spaghetti noodles and dairy free cheese tomorrow. I enjoyed your references to older family recipes and cooking styles. Thanks!
Nagi says
Oooh! Love to know how it goes! 🙂 N xx
Lynda Sartini says
I tried this recipe tonight~I only had ziti on hand, and noticed your recommendation about the flour after I already sprinkled it all over-oops!-but, it still came out fine. It was especially a hit with my husband. I just want to say that I was very touched by your reference to the meals you bring to the homeless man in the park. Our church has a homeless ministry, where we feed them every Sunday, along with a gospel message about salvation through Christ Jesus. We also have a ministry that hits the streets weekly, giving them toiletries, water(it gets very hot here in Florida!), snacks, encouragement, and prayer. God Bless you, and you truly show what JESUS taught us while here on earth. “If you do it (food, clothing, shelter-LOVE)to the least of these, you’ve done it to me.”
Nagi says
I love hearing that Lynda, how wonderful you are! N x ❤️
Dee says
Great, convenient meal- thanks!
Have half the bake leftover- just wondering is it ok to freeze it??
Thank you!
Nagi says
Hi Dee! Should be ok, when you reheat it, mix it up to smooth out that sauce and personally I would then pop it under the broiler / grill with some more cheese! N x
Michelle says
Hi. I made this last night. Really yummy. Added chilli flakes and some Dijon mustard. My 3 adult sons loved it too. Thanks
Nagi says
Thanks for the great review Michelle! I’m SO pleased to hear you enjoyed it! N xx
Nuala says
Hi, can I cook this on a low heat in the oven & for longer?
Nagi says
I don’t recommend that Nuala, it will make the pasta soggier 🙂
TARA says
Hi Nagi, Looks great!!!!!!!!!!!
What size dish to prepare the meal ?
Nagi says
Hi Tara! I use one that is about 40cm / 16 ” x 22cm / 9″ 🙂
Caroline says
I’m giving this a go tonight! Can’t wait
Nagi says
Hope you love it!
Rhiannon Sneddon says
Hi there,
I can’t seem to find the way to make sauce before adding to pasta. Or is it ok to used cooked chicken
Nagi says
Hi Rhiannon! There is no separate sauce to be made, it all goes into the baking dish 🙂 And yes you can use cooked chicken! N x
Angela says
Hi! Do you think using whole wheat flour would make a huge difference?
Nagi says
I don’t think it will affect the recipe at all! 🙂 N xx
Nagi says
Hi Robin, I’m sorry to hear that, did you chop the chicken into the small pieces specified in the recipe? Because the cook time is definitely long enough to more than cook the chicken 🙂 N x
Emily Carter-Dunn says
There hasn’t been a recipe of yours that hasn’t become a staple in our house. My husband adores your fried rice recipe (I make it every week) and I tried this out today in a very cold England! I can’t believe how gorgeous this pasta bake is!
I’ve had to have this cook for about an hour, but I think that is mostly down to me using a deep, rather than wide, casserole dish.
Nagi says
What a wonderful compliment, thank you Emily! I’m so pleased you enjoyed this. And yes, if you use a deep pan then it will take longer to cook, I’m glad it come out great though! N xx
Sandy says
This looks so good and something you can add different things to. But I am not sure if the chicken is raw or cooked to put in dish. I tried looking but may have missed the answer. Can’t wait to try instead of using sodium loaded soup.
Your so nice to feed that homeless man, he is lucky. I used to do that but they chased them away from the bridge.
Nagi says
hi Sandy! It’s raw 🙂 There is a recipe video that might help – it’s below the recipe! N xx
Svetlana says
p.s. Thank you for creating such creamy dish without using a can of cream soup!
Nagi says
You’re most welcome Svetlana! N xx