Experienced cooks will raise their eyebrows when they see how this HEALTHY Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake is made. Made from scratch, not a drop of cream, this is a complete meal that takes 5 healthy chicken and broccoli bake to prep, made in ONE baking dish and it’s absolutely delish. This is how to make a HEALTHY Creamy Pasta Bake in one baking dish, from scratch. Loaded with broccoli, 5 minutes prep then just pop it in the oven.
This Ultra Lazy HEALTHY Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake is magical! 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. I blame my Japanese mother for raising me as a total snob about overcooked rice and this snobbery extends to pasta. I’m going to be completely honest with you about the difference between this and the traditional way of making creamy pasta bakes. 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. I didn’t create this Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake as a hack. It came about because of the homeless man 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. Ultra Lazy HEALTHY Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake recipe video! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
One for all those busy nights – a complete HEALTHY meal all made in one baking dish. 5 minutes prep, pop it in the oven, then out comes perfectly cooked chicken and broccoli pasta bake smothered in a creamy sauce. Spread pasta in a baking dish. Pour over milk and broth, add garlic and butter.
Spread chicken over the top, then broccoli. Add most of the cheese, then STIR WELL again. Stand for a few minutes then serve immediately! BROCCOLI: Break them into smallish florets to ensure it cooks through. Frozen thawed cauliflower requires the same. Cheddar and Colby are my usual, but it works fine with any flavoured cheese that melts. I don’t use mozzarella in the bake because it doesn’t have as strong a flavour, but sometimes I use mozzarella to top the bake.
AUSTRALIA: Some brands of tasty cheese has a tendency to come out a teeny bit “grainy” when used in cheesy sauces like this. It will work fine with better brands, but I would not use value brands. TROUBLESHOOTING: The cook time for this sort of recipe is affected by the strength of your oven. Just leave it in the oven!
If the cook time is way out for you and the top is too brown, cover with foil or a tray and put it back in the oven. I came up with this method of cooking. I do for classic Mac and Cheese. ALTERNATIVE VEGGIES: I have also made this an even lazier way using canned tuna, diced frozen veggies and baby spinach. Just add the frozen veggies in with the pasta, then stir the tuna and spinach in with the cheese. If using frozen veggies, be sure not to use ones that leach a lot of liquid when they thaw e.
I used mixed veggie bag of carrots, corn, peas. FREEZING: It’s not the best to freeze because of the way the sauce is made so it does look a bit split when reheated but the taste is still great! Reheating leftovers from the fridge is fine though. Nutrition assuming 5 servings, tenderloin, 1. 5 tbsp butter and 1 cup of shredded cheese. I love hearing how you went with my recipes!
Broccoli – Made in one pot, cheesy and creamy but made without a drop of cream! 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. Dozer only runs towards vertically challenged, dark haired women with generously sized bottoms! I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!