Chicken Alfredo Bake Broccoli (Printable Version)

A comforting blend of chicken, broccoli, and pasta in a creamy, cheesy baked dish.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Pasta

04 - 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta

→ Sauce

05 - 2 cups heavy cream
06 - 1 cup whole milk
07 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
12 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

→ Topping

13 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water until just al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Add broccoli florets during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain well and set aside.
03 - In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to brown.
04 - Pour in heavy cream and whole milk. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
05 - Add Parmesan and mozzarella cheese, stirring until completely melted and sauce is smooth and slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes. Season with salt, black pepper, and nutmeg.
06 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked chicken, drained pasta and broccoli, and prepared Alfredo sauce. Mix until all ingredients are evenly coated.
07 - Transfer mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle topping cheeses uniformly across the surface.
08 - Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until sauce is bubbly around edges and cheese topping is golden brown.
09 - Let casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow sauce to set. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • This casserole tastes even better reheated the next day making it perfect for meal prep
  • The broccoli steams right in the pasta water so you save time and dirty fewer dishes
  • Everything gets tossed together in one pan before baking so cleanup is surprisingly minimal
02 -
  • Undercook the pasta by at least 2 minutes because it continues cooking in the oven and nobody wants mushy pasta
  • Grate your own cheese from blocks because the pre shredded stuff is coated in cellulose and wont melt into a smooth sauce
  • Let the sauce simmer gently instead of boiling vigorously or the cream might separate and become grainy
03 -
  • Use freshly ground nutmeg instead of pre ground for the best flavor impact
  • Save some pasta water before draining in case you need to thin the sauce later

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