There are a lot of things that symbolize the beginning of fall to me, one of which is comfort food. As the weather begins to cool off, I often crave something hot and comforting. This could be anything from a good bowl of chili or a favorite casserole. It just so happens that today’s recipe is all about comfort! It combines familiar flavors that are adored by grownups and children alike and will warm you right up on a cool, crisp night. If you love comfort food as much as I do, then this Cheesy Chicken And Broccoli Casserole is going to make your tummy very happy!
I am always on a mission to make food that my children will eat. At their current ages, they have pretty picky taste buds. With the exception of pizza, they would be more than happy to eat chicken nuggets every night. It can be difficult to find foods that are pleasing to them and yet not overly bland to me and my husband. But I am always up for a challenge! What about you? Do you have picky eaters as well? If you do, don’t give up hope! Just like me, you might be surprised at how well received this recipe is!
A Cheesy Win
I know that my kids love cheese, I mean, who doesn’t? I also know that they love pasta. With this knowledge in mind, I set out to create something that has plenty of cheese and noodles, but also some veggies and protein. After a little experimenting, the cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole was born. When I say experimenting, I truly mean it! I have made this casserole many times, each time tweaking the spices until they were flavorful enough to the grownups while not turning off the littles. I was overjoyed the night that I placed it in front of them and they gobbled it up!
Cheesy Chicken And Broccoli Casserole
Ready to get cooking? You will love just how simple this is! To start, you will want to roast some broccoli. I chose to start with bags of frozen broccoli, because all the hard work is already done. I prefer to use the florets because the stems are just too chewy in my opinion. You will need about two to three cups of cooked broccoli for this recipe, depending on how small the florets are. Just line a baking tray with foil and place the frozen broccoli on it in an even layer. Give it a good dousing of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the pan in the oven until the broccoli has cooked to desired consistency.
While the broccoli is cooking, you can bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta. I used veggie rotini for this cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole because it adds more flavor and texture. It is also a good way to sneak in some more servings of veggies too! Once the pasta has cooked, just drain and set aside. I like to add a tablespoon or two of butter to the noodles once they have cooked to keep them from sticking, but that is optional.
The Other Star Ingredients
Next comes the meat! For this casserole, I chose to use ground chicken. Ground chicken is inexpensive and of course super easy to work with. You could also throw some tenders in the oven and roast them with the broccoli and then shred the chicken once cooked. That would be delicious too! But worry about losing flavor with ground! Your casserole will still be delicious and will come together much faster.
Now that the two big components are cooked, it is time to put it together with the other star ingredient. You can’t have cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole without cheese! This casserole gets its creaminess from velveeta. Yes, I said velveeta. There is just something about velveeta that cannot be matched by other cheeses. It just melts into the perfect melty consistency. IF you just cannot fathom using velveeta and must use another cheese, I would recommend making a cheese sauce. You would need to make a rue with flour, butter and milk, and then add your shredded cheese. This step would be necessary in order to get a smooth cheese sauce. Velveeta does not need to be combined with a rue to be smooth and creamy. You can simply add it right in and it will do all the work for you!
Easy Cheesy
It is easiest to put the cheese directly into the cooked pasta (over very low heat) and gradually add the milk. Once the cheese has completely melted, then you can add in the other ingredients, including the seasoning and chicken broth. The seasonings in this recipe are very minimal. Throughout the entire recipe, I only used salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. While not a lot of spice, it is just the right amount to bump up the flavor. The chicken broth concentrate also helps to add a little richness.
Want to know another great thing about this recipe? It doesn’t have to be baked! Woo hoo! Once you have brought all of the ingredients together at the party on the stove, you are done! No need to pop it in the oven. How fast and easy is that? Not as fast as it will disappear once it hits the table! This cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole is a guaranteed win with every member of your family. It will warm your soul and your tummy!
Find Your Comfort
I hope that this recipe will be just as comforting to you and your family as it has been for mine. It is easy enough for any night of the week and any time of the year! So grab your family and gather around the table for a big old bowl of cheesy chicken and broccoli casserole. You will be glad that you did! Looking for more great comfort food? Check out my slow cooker chili or stuffed meatloaf! Both are equally as good on a cool night, and both are super easy to make!
Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 lb rotini or similar pasta
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 2-3 c broccoli florets
- 1 ½ c milk
- 32 oz velveeta cubed
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp chicken broth concentrate
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°
- Line a sheet pan with foil and place broccoli in an even layer. Cover with a drizzle of oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Roast broccoli for 30-40 minutes or until it is tender.
- While broccoli is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add pasta and cook according to package directions; drain and return to pot, then add two tablespoons of butter (optional).
- In a medium sized pan, heat a drizzle of oil and cook ground chicken until cooked through; breaking into small pieces. Drain.
- Cube the Velveeta and add to the cooked pasta. Add spices, milk and chicken broth concentrate and heat over low heat until cheese has fully melted.
- Add in cooked chicken and broccoli and gently stir to combine. Remove from heat and serve!
