Description
This Chicken Noodle Casserole is a warm and comforting dish featuring rotini pasta, tender broccoli, and shredded chicken breast baked in a creamy homemade sauce with melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for an easy family dinner, it combines nutritious ingredients into a flavorful casserole that’s both hearty and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 3 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-size pieces
Sauce and Seasonings
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Protein and Cheese
- 2 ½ cups chopped cooked chicken breast
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (8 ounces), divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375° F (190° C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook pasta and broccoli: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook as per package instructions for al dente. During the last 2 minutes, add the chopped broccoli florets to the boiling water. Once done, drain and rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process and set aside.
- Sauté onions: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the chopped yellow onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Make the sauce: Sprinkle the flour into the skillet with the onions and whisk continuously for 30 seconds to cook the flour. Slowly pour in the chicken broth and whole milk while whisking to prevent lumps. Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Continue to cook and whisk for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Combine ingredients: Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the cooked chicken, cooked pasta, broccoli, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese until everything is evenly mixed.
- Prepare for baking: Transfer the mixture to a 13×9-inch baking dish, spreading it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake the casserole: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes until the casserole is hot, bubbly, and the cheese is melted and slightly golden.
Notes
- This chicken noodle casserole is cozy, comforting, and so delicious!
- It’s made with spiral pasta, broccoli, cheese, and a simple homemade cream sauce.
- Rinsing the pasta and broccoli with cold water stops them from overcooking and ensures the broccoli stays vibrant and crisp-tender.
- You can substitute the cheddar cheese with mozzarella or a cheese blend for different flavors.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 396 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 82 mg
