Description
A cozy, lighter take on a classic comfort-dish favorite, featuring tender chicken, crisp-tender broccoli, and a creamy, cheesy sauce without the heavy guilt.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces uncooked whole-wheat rotini pasta
- 1 large head of broccoli, cut into bite-sized 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 (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 2 cups diced (or shredded) cooked chicken
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Cube chicken breasts or thighs and toss with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Sauté Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté seasoned chicken until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Prepare Broccoli: Steam broccoli florets until tender-crisp and set aside.
- Grate Cheeses: Grate all cheeses, reserving some for topping.
- Sauté Aromatics: Melt butter or olive oil in the skillet and sauté onions until translucent.
- Add Garlic: Add minced garlic and sauté for another minute.
- Create Roux: Add flour and whisk continuously until cooked out, forming a paste.
- Whisk in Liquids: Gradually add chicken broth and almond milk, whisking until the sauce thickens.
- Introduce Healthy Creaminess: Stir in Greek yogurt and seasonings until smooth.
- Melt the Cheese: Add shredded cheeses and stir until melted.
- Combine Main Ingredients: Fold in chicken and broccoli until coated.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Transfer mixture to a baking dish and spread evenly.
- Create the Crispy Topping: Combine panko, Parmesan, and reserved cheeses, then sprinkle over the casserole.
- Preheat and Bake: Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes until bubbly and crispy.
- Rest Before Serving: Let the casserole rest before serving.
- Serve Warm: Dish out and enjoy!
Notes
For a vegetarian option, increase mushrooms and add chickpeas instead of chicken.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: broccoli, chicken, casserole, healthy, comfort food