Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

Recipe tips

This casserole has multiple components that need to be cooked separately and come together at the end. They’re all easy to do. Make them in this order so they are all done at roughly the same time.

• Start the water for the pasta and set the chicken to poach. Making the pasta will take about the same time as poaching the chicken.
• Prepare the breadcrumb topping, broccoli and the sauce while the chicken and pasta cook.

Ingredients

• 1 pound Chicken Breast, boneless, skinless
• 2 cups Chicken Broth
• Pinch Salt
• 8 ounces Elbow Macaroni, cooked to package directions (do not overcook)
• 1-2 tablespoons Salt, for the pasta water
• 10-12 ounce Package Steam-in-the-Bag Broccoli Florets, cooked 1-2 minutes in the microwave
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• ⅓ cup Plain Breadcrumbs
• 2 (10 ounce) cans Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
• 4 ounces Prepared Cheese (like Velveeta)
• 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

You will also need:

• Casserole Dish, we used a 3 quart casserole. Don’t use anything smaller. We were right to the top with when all the ingredients were added.
• Aluminum Foil
• Mesh Strainer
• Instant Read Thermometer

Poach the chicken

Poaching is an easy and versatile technique that consists of cooking food by submerging and gently simmering in liquid, such as water or broth.

Place the chicken in a saucepan that’s large enough that the pieces fit side by side without overlapping. Cover the chicken with the chicken broth. Add a pinch of salt.

Start the chicken on high heat. As soon as the liquid starts to boil, lower the heat to medium-low and cover. Simmer gently for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is at least 165°F at its thickest part.

Use an instant read thermometer to make sure. If it’s not up to temperature cook another 5 minutes and check again.

Remove the chicken breast from poaching liquid and set it on a cutting board to cool. Don’t discard the cooking liquid, we will use it for the sauce. Strain using a mesh strainer.

Cut the chicken into bite-sized cubes when it’s cool enough to handle. Check out this post for more information on poached chicken.

Cook the pasta

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. When the water is at a full boil, add 1-2 tablespoons of salt and the macaroni. Cook the pasta to package directions for al dente.

Par-cook the broccoli

Par-cooking is a technique that involves partially cooking food that will finish cooking later. It’s like getting a head start on an ingredient before adding in the rest.

We don’t want the broccoli fully cooked when we add it to the casserole so it doesn’t get mushy. Cook the broccoli for 1-2 minutes in the microwave if you’re using a steam in the bag variety.

Then, carefully open the bag and let the steam escape so that the broccoli doesn’t continue cooking. Cut any large florets into smaller pieces when they are cool enough to handle.

Make the breadcrumb topping

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add the breadcrumbs. Stir until they’re completely moistened with the butter. Remove the skillet from the heat.

Make the sauce

Leave the sauce for last because we need the chicken broth from the poached chicken to make it.

Heat the cream of chicken soup, reserved chicken broth (poaching liquid) and the 4 ounces prepared cheese in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir the sauce with a whisk or fork until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Remove the pan from the heat and stir every once in a while.

Build the casserole

Preheat oven to 375°F

1. Add the macaroni, diced chicken and broccoli to a large, oven-safe casserole dish or baking pan. Stir to combine the ingredients.
2. Add the creamy sauce.
3. Stir gently to combine the ingredients well. Keep stirring and tossing until everything is coated with sauce.
4. Sprinkle the top with the shredded cheese and breadcrumbs. Sprinkle them lightly, don’t pack them down.

Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before enjoying.

You may also like these chicken recipes:

• Chicken Egg Noodle Soup
• Chicken Tetrazzini
• Artichoke Chicken
• Baked Caprese Chicken
• Chicken and Rice Casserole
• Creamy Pasta with Chicken