Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake Recipe
This creamy chicken broccoli Alfredo bake is the perfect dinner for two with leftovers! It’s ready in just 45 minutes and full of cozy, comforting flavors you’ll want to dig into before it’s even out of the oven.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne
- 1 head broccoli roughly diced, see Notes
- 8 ounces grilled chicken diced
- 15 ounces alfredo sauce
- 1 cup shredded extra sharp white cheddar cheese divided
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water, according to package directions. During the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli to the pot. Then drain everything and return it to the pot.
- Add the grilled chicken, alfredo sauce, ½ cup of cheddar, and the garlic to the pot. Stir well to combine.
- Pour the mixture into a large baking dish and top with the remaining cheddar cheese. Cover with foil, then bake for 30 minutes. Serve hot.
Notes
Grilled chicken - Make this ahead of time, or use leftovers. We like to use a simple zesty lemon chicken marinade for perfectly juicy, tender results with a “plain” flavor that goes great in any dish that calls for grilled chicken.
Broccoli - Sizes can vary, so look for an “average” sized head of broccoli that's around 14 ounces in weight. Since you’re going to chop it up small, it’s not worth spending extra for the bagged florets at the store.
Alfredo sauce - We wanted this recipe to be as easy as possible, so we use store bought alfredo. Our preferred brand is Classico, as it’s made mostly from natural ingredients and has great flavor. Optionally, you could make your own alfredo sauce from scratch for an even less processed ingredient.
Chop the chicken and broccoli small - We find that diced chicken and broccoli works best for a pasta bake. You’ll get the best distribution of ingredients with smaller pieces, which means maximum flavor in every bite! Don't worry about perfectly dicing either ingredient; a little variation in size gives this pasta bake a nice rustic feel.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 570kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 953mg | Potassium: 632mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1230IU | Vitamin C: 136mg | Calcium: 284mg | Iron: 2mg
