Name: Easy No-Boil Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 400g / 14 oz Chicken Tenderloin, Breast, or Thigh, cut into bite-sized pieces; To taste Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper; 1 tsp Dried Thyme; 250g / 8 oz Uncooked Spiral Pasta; ¼ cup All-Purpose / Plain Flour; 1½ cups Low-Sodium Chicken Broth/Stock, warmed; 2 cups Milk (any fat %), warmed; 1 Large Garlic Clove, minced; 2 tbsp / 30g Unsalted Butter (optional); 1 large head Fresh Broccoli Florets; 1½ cups Shredded Cheddar or Colby Cheese, tightly packed, divided

Jump to Recipe

What if you could create a rich, creamy, and cheesy pasta bake without boiling the pasta, making a separate sauce, or dirtying a single pot? It sounds too good to be true, but this recipe is here to change everything you thought you knew about weeknight dinners. We’re ditching the extra steps and pots to bring you the ultimate one-pan wonder. This Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake is a game-changing dish where everything—including the uncooked pasta and raw chicken—goes directly into the baking dish and emerges as a perfectly cooked, bubbly, and incredibly delicious meal. Get ready for your new favorite “lazy” recipe that delivers maximum comfort with minimal effort.

Contents

Ingredients
Timing
Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preheat Oven and Season Chicken
Step 2: Assemble the One-Pan Base
Step 3: Layer the Chicken and Broccoli
Step 4: The First Bake (Covered)
Step 5: The Crucial Stir and Second Bake

Nutritional Information
Healthier Alternatives for Your Pasta Bake
Serving Suggestions
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Storing Tips
Conclusion
FAQs

Q1. Do I really not have to boil the pasta first?
Q2. Can I use different shapes of pasta?
Q3. Can I use frozen broccoli instead of fresh?
Q4. Can I prepare this pasta bake ahead of time?

Easy No-Boil Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake

Description
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?

Ingredients

This one-pan meal comes together with simple, wholesome ingredients. Using warmed milk and broth helps the pasta cook more evenly and quickly.

Ingredient	Amount/Quantity
Chicken Tenderloin, Breast, or Thigh	400g / 14 oz, cut into bite-sized pieces
Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper	To taste
Dried Thyme	1 tsp
Uncooked Spiral Pasta	250g / 8 oz
All-Purpose / Plain Flour	¼ cup
Low-Sodium Chicken Broth/Stock	1 ½ cups, warmed
Milk (any fat %)	2 cups, warmed
Large Garlic Clove	1, minced
Unsalted Butter	2 tbsp / 30g (optional)
Fresh Broccoli Florets	1 large head
Shredded Cheddar or Colby Cheese	1 ½ cups, tightly packed

Timing

This from-scratch pasta bake is on the table in under an hour, making it a perfect, reliable choice for any busy evening.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: Approximately 50 minutes

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps to create a magical one-pan pasta bake where your oven does all the work.

Step 1: Preheat Oven and Season Chicken

First, preheat your oven to 200°C/390°F (180°C fan-forced). While the oven heats up, place your cut chicken pieces in a bowl. Sprinkle them generously with salt, pepper, and the dried thyme, then toss everything together to ensure the chicken is evenly coated.

Step 2: Assemble the One-Pan Base

Spread the uncooked spiral pasta in a single layer in a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33cm) baking dish. Sprinkle the flour evenly all across the surface of the pasta.

Tip: Be sure to sprinkle the flour rather than dumping it in one clump. This is the key to preventing a lumpy sauce later on. Pour the warmed milk and chicken broth over the pasta, then add the minced garlic and butter (if using). Stir everything together well.

Step 3: Layer the Chicken and Broccoli

Arrange the seasoned chicken pieces in an even layer over the top of the pasta and liquid. Next, scatter the broccoli florets over the chicken.

Step 4: The First Bake (Covered)

Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 15 minutes. This initial covered baking time traps steam in the dish, which is what cooks the pasta to perfection without needing to boil it first.

Step 5: The Crucial Stir and Second Bake

Carefully remove the dish from the oven and take off the foil. The magic happens now: STIR averything very well, ensuring you scrape the bottom of the dish to lift any pasta that might be sticking. Add most of the shredded cheese and STIR WELL again until the cheese begins to melt into the liquid, creating a creamy sauce. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top. Return the dish to the oven, uncovered, and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly and the sauce has thickened. Let it stand for a few minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information

This recipe is a balanced, all-in-one meal. The nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on your specific ingredients.

Balanced Dinner: Provides a good mix of protein from the chicken, complex carbohydrates from the pasta, and vitamins from the broccoli.
Calcium: A good source of calcium thanks to the milk and cheese.

Healthier Alternatives for Your Pasta Bake

This dish is already wonderfully wholesome, but you can easily adapt it to be even healthier.

Whole Grains: Swap the regular pasta for a whole wheat variety for extra fiber and nutrients. The cooking time should remain the same.
Lighter Sauce: Use low-fat (1%) milk and a reduced-fat shredded cheese to lower the overall calorie and fat content without sacrificing too much creaminess.
Gluten-Free: This recipe can be made gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free pasta and substituting the all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend. Note that gluten-free pastas can sometimes require a few extra minutes of cooking time.

Serving Suggestions

This Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake is a hearty, complete meal right out of the dish.

As Is: This dish is fantastic served hot and bubbly, straight from the oven. The creamy, cheesy sauce is all you need.
With a Simple Salad: Pair a serving of the pasta bake with a crisp green salad tossed in a light lemon vinaigrette to add a fresh, bright contrast.
With Garlic Bread: For a truly comforting meal, serve with a side of warm garlic bread for dipping into the delicious cheesy sauce.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

This no-boil method is simple, but following these tips will guarantee success.

Getting a Clumpy Sauce: If you dump the flour into the liquid all at once, it will form stubborn clumps. Solution: Sprinkle the flour over the dry, uncooked pasta first. This allows it to coat the pasta and dissolve evenly into the sauce as it bakes.
Pasta is Undercooked: This can happen if your liquids were too cold or if you skipped the mid-bake stir. Solution: Using warmed milk and broth gives the cooking process a head start. The stir after the first 15 minutes is not optional—it’s essential for ensuring all the pasta is submerged in the hot liquid so it can cook through evenly.
The Sauce Seems Watery: The sauce thickens significantly in the final minutes of baking and as it stands. Solution: If your sauce looks a little thin when you pull it from the oven, don’t worry. Let the pasta bake stand for 5-10 minutes before serving; it will thicken up to a perfectly creamy consistency.

Storing Tips

This pasta bake makes for fantastic leftovers, perfect for lunch the next day.

To Store: Allow the pasta bake to cool completely. Store it in an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with foil and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
To Reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave until hot and bubbly. To reheat a larger portion, place it in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 20 minutes, or until warmed through.

Conclusion

This Easy No-Boil Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake is proof that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to create a deeply satisfying, from-scratch meal. It’s a clever, time-saving recipe that delivers a perfectly cooked, creamy, and cheesy casserole with unbelievably little effort. It’s the perfect dish for anyone who loves hearty comfort food but doesn’t love a sink full of dirty dishes.

We are so excited for you to try this game-changing recipe. Give it a go and let us know in the comments how it turned out! We love hearing from you. Don’t forget to rate the recipe and subscribe for more easy, one-pan dinner ideas.

FAQs

Q1. Do I really not have to boil the pasta first?

That’s right! That’s the magic of this recipe. The pasta cooks directly in the sauce in the oven. The foil cover traps steam, and the starches from the pasta help to thicken the sauce, creating a creamy, flavorful result.

Q2. Can I use different shapes of pasta?

Yes, but it’s best to stick with smaller pasta shapes that have a similar cooking time to spirals (fusilli). Other good options include penne, rotini, medium shells, or ziti. Avoid long pastas like spaghetti or very small shapes like orzo.

Q3. Can I use frozen broccoli instead of fresh?

Absolutely. You can add the broccoli florets while they are still frozen. There is no need to thaw them first; they will cook perfectly during the baking time.

Q4. Can I prepare this pasta bake ahead of time?

This recipe is best assembled and baked right before serving. If you assemble it too far in advance, the uncooked pasta will absorb the liquid while it sits in the refrigerator, which can lead to a softer, mushier texture after baking. However, you can save time by chopping your chicken and broccoli ahead of time.