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Healthier Broccoli Chicken Casserole Easy Family Comfort Food

Healthier Broccoli Chicken Casserole

This Healthier Broccoli Chicken Casserole is a lighter, comforting twist on the classic — packed with protein, fiber, and veggies. Made with whole-wheat pasta, tender chicken, fresh broccoli, and a creamy mushroom sauce instead of canned soup, this dish is as wholesome as it is delicious!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Casserole, Dinner
Cuisine: American, Healthy Comfort Food
Calories: 390
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz Uncooked pasta whole-wheat rotini or other short pasta
  • 1 large head Broccoli cut into bite-sized florets (about 1 lb)
  • 2 tbsp Butter or olive oil
  • 1 small White onion thinly sliced
  • 8 oz Baby bella (cremini) mushrooms thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves Garlic minced
  • 3 tbsp Flour
  • 1 cup Chicken or vegetable stock
  • 1.5 cups Milk
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 0.5 tsp Fine sea salt
  • 0.25 tsp Freshly cracked black pepper
  • 2 cups (8 oz) Shredded sharp cheddar cheese divided
  • 2 cups Diced or shredded cooked chicken

Method
 

  1. 1. Preheat oven: Set oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. 2. Cook pasta and broccoli: Boil pasta in salted water until almost al dente. About 1 minute before pasta is done, add broccoli florets. Drain and set aside.
  3. 3. Sauté vegetables: Heat butter or oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and garlic; cook 5 minutes more until tender.
  4. 4. Make sauce: Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in stock, then add milk, Dijon, salt, and pepper. Cook until sauce begins to simmer and thicken. Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese until melted.
  5. 5. Assemble casserole: In a 9×13-inch baking dish, combine pasta, broccoli, sauce, and chicken. Toss until evenly coated and smooth out the top.
  6. 6. Bake: Bake uncovered for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese over top, and bake another 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  7. 7. Serve: Let cool slightly, then serve warm. Garnish with extra black pepper or fresh herbs, if desired.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken with white beans or chickpeas. You can also use cauliflower or mixed veggies instead of broccoli for variety.