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

Description

This one-pan meal comes together with simple, wholesome ingredients for a from-scratch pasta bake that’s on the table in under an hour. It’s a perfect, reliable choice for any busy evening. Using warmed milk and broth helps the pasta cook more evenly and quickly.

Ingredients

$400 g$ / $14$ oz Chicken Tenderloin, Breast, or Thigh, cut into bite-sized pieces
To taste Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
$1$ tsp Dried Thyme
$250 g$ / $8$ oz Uncooked Spiral Pasta
$1/4$ cup All-Purpose / Plain Flour
$1 1/2$ cups Low-Sodium Chicken Broth/Stock, warmed
$2$ cups Milk (any fat %), warmed
$1$ Large Garlic Clove, minced
$2$ tbsp / $30 g$ Unsalted Butter (optional)
$1$ large head Fresh Broccoli Florets
$1 1/2$ cups Shredded Cheddar or Colby Cheese, tightly packed, divided

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Instructions

Preheat & Season Chicken: Preheat your oven to $200° C /390° F$ ( $180° C$ fan-forced). In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and dried thyme until evenly coated.
Assemble the Base: Spread the uncooked pasta in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the pasta. Pour in the warmed milk and chicken broth, then add the minced garlic and butter (if using). Stir well.
Layer Chicken & Broccoli: Arrange the seasoned chicken pieces in an even layer over the pasta, followed by the broccoli florets scattered over the top.
First Bake (Covered): Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. This traps the steam to cook the pasta.
Stir, Add Cheese & Finish Baking: Carefully remove the dish from the oven and discard the foil. Stir everything very well, scraping the bottom of the dish. Stir in most of the cheese until it begins to melt into a sauce. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Return the dish to the oven uncovered and bake for another 15-20 minutes, until golden and bubbly. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

The Crucial Stir: Don’t skip the stir after the first bake! It’s essential to scrape the bottom of the dish to prevent pasta from sticking and to incorporate the cheese to create a creamy sauce.
Sprinkle the Flour: To ensure a smooth, non-lumpy sauce, be sure to sprinkle the flour evenly over the dry pasta rather than dumping it in one clump.
Warm the Liquids: Using warmed milk and broth helps the pasta begin cooking immediately and more evenly in the oven.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Main Course, Dinner, Casserole, Pasta
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/5th of recipe
Calories: 605kcal
Sugar: 8g
Sodium: 450mg
Fat: 21g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0.5g
Carbohydrates: 54g
Fiber: 5g
Protein: 39g
Cholesterol: 110mg

Description

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition

Don’t leave hungry!