Description
This Healthier Broccoli Chicken Casserole is a comforting and nutritious dish that the whole family will love. Made with whole-wheat pasta, fresh broccoli, a creamy mushroom sauce, tender chicken, and plenty of melted cheddar cheese.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Ingredients for the Casserole:
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta (whole-wheat rotini)
- 1 large head of broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets (about 1 pound of florets)
- 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 1 small white onion, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces baby bella (cremini) mushrooms, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 cups diced or shredded cooked chicken
Additional Notes:
- *Pasta: Any type of pasta will work here — traditional (semolina), whole-wheat, egg, gluten-free, or alternative-grain pasta.
- *Broccoli: Feel free to use 1 pound of frozen broccoli florets (thawed) in place of fresh broccoli if you prefer.
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat oven to 400°F.
- Cook Pasta and Broccoli: Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Add broccoli 1 minute before pasta is done. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Mushroom Sauce: Saute onion, mushrooms, and garlic. Add flour, stock, milk, Dijon, salt, pepper, and 1 cup of cheese. Stir until combined and simmer.
- Assemble Casserole: Combine pasta, broccoli, mushroom sauce, and chicken in a baking dish. Bake for 15 minutes.
- Final Bake: Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and bake for 10 more minutes until cheese is melted.
- Serve: Garnish with black pepper and fresh herbs. Enjoy!
Notes
- *Pasta: Any type of pasta will work here — traditional (semolina), whole-wheat, egg, gluten-free, or alternative-grain pasta.
- *Broccoli: Feel free to use 1 pound of frozen broccoli florets (thawed) in place of fresh broccoli if you prefer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 590mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 83mg
