Description

A rich, creamy, and cheesy casserole perfect for cozy nights, made with chicken, broccoli, and pasta in a luscious cream cheese base. Ready in under an hour and easy to customize with pantry staples.

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups cooked and shredded boneless chicken breasts (about 10.5 oz / 300g)
2 cups broccoli florets (about 5.3 oz / 150g), fresh or thawed frozen
8 ounces cream cheese, softened (full-fat preferred)
½ cup sour cream (4 fl oz / 120ml)
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (7 oz / 200g), divided
½ cup mayonnaise (4 fl oz / 120ml)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
Black pepper to taste
3 cups cooked pasta (elbow macaroni or penne, about 10.5 oz / 300g), cooked al dente

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. In the last 3 minutes, add broccoli florets to cook lightly. Drain well and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and well blended.
Fold in shredded chicken and 1½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese into the creamy mixture.
Add the drained pasta and broccoli to the bowl and stir gently until evenly mixed.
Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly on top.
Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden and bubbly.
Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Drain broccoli and pasta well to avoid watery casserole. Use sharp cheddar for best flavor. Soften cream cheese before mixing to avoid lumps. Let casserole rest before slicing for clean cuts. Variations include swapping veggies, adding spices, or using different proteins. Freeze before or after baking for meal prep.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole (ab
Calories: 350
Fat: 18
Carbohydrates: 22
Fiber: 3
Protein: 26

Keywords: creamy casserole, cheesy casserole, chicken casserole, comfort food, easy dinner, broccoli casserole, baked pasta, weeknight meal