Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Bake

Well, well, well...what do you know! This is pretty good. My DIL brought me a bag of frozen chicken breasts the other day so I thawed them out to use for dinner. Then my mom called and told me she was bringing me some fried chicken so I wouldn’t have to cook. So I threw that bagged chicken in the fridge faster that a jack rabbit on a hot tar road. But I knew I’d need to use it in the next day or so and THIS is what I came up with. I scoured the pantry for things that would work in this recipe because I did NOT want to go to the store. So, after all that, this recipe turned out really good and something that I’ll be making again. Soon!

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Bake

 

1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni ~ cooked al dente

2 cups broccoli florettes ~ washed, blanched

2 -3 cups cooked chicken ~ diced or shredded

1 small onion ~ diced

1 clove garlic ~ minced

3 tablespoons flour

3 tablespoons butter

3 cups sharp cheddar cheese ~ divided use

4 ounces cream cheese ~ room temperature

1/4 cup sour cream

1 cup milk

1 cup heavy cream

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup Panko bread crumbs

4 tablespoons butter ~ melted

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9x13 inch pan with cooking spray.

 

In a small bowl, combine the Panko bread crumbs and the melted butter. Set aside.

 

In a large skillet, saute the onion and garlic over medium heat for a couple of minutes.

 

Melt the butter in the pan then add the flour and cook for a minute or so.

 

Pour in the milk and cream and cook until thick. Add salt and pepper to taste.

 

Add the sour cream, cream cheese and 2 cups of the grated cheese. 

 

Cook and stir until melted and well combined.

 

In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cooked chicken, the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese and blanched broccoli.

 

Pour cheese sauce over everything and toss gently to coat.

 

Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle with Panko crumb mixture.

 

Bake for 30 -45 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly.

Let's make a casserole! I also used panko...which I forgot to add to the picture! Oopsies!

Cook the onions and garlic in a little 

olive oil then melt the butter in the pan.

Add the flour and cook 

that for a minute or so.

Up next, the milk and cream and cook until thick. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Next comes the cream cheese, sour cream and 2 cups of the grated cheese.

Stir that around until the cheese 

is melted and the mixture is smooth.

In a large bowl, add the cooked chicken, blanched broccoli, pasta, the remaining cheese and the sauce. Toss to coat.

Pour the mixture into the pan 

and top with the panko mixture.

Bake it up....enjoy!!