What is it about the chicken and broccoli combination that we love so much? Cheesy chicken and broccoli casseroles are one of my favorite comfort foods even though it’s not something that’s always on our dinner table. I like a garlicky and peppery chicken and broccoli bake – not sure why but it’s my preference. Today’s post is described as ‘ultra lazy’ because you can make all of it in one pan and essentially you don’t have to use other dishes to prep. If you’re pressed for time, this is a chicken and broccoli bake you’ll want to add in your recipe repertoire.
Most chicken and broccoli bakes or casseroles I’ve made, I usually make them with rice. That’s typically the norm, don’t you think? However, we’re changing the new normal over here. Recipe Tin Eats, where this recipe came from, used pasta instead. PASTA! Y’all this dish is so good for a weeknight meal or even better, a comforting Sunday night dinner.
I think pasta is perfect for Sunday’s. I’m not sure why that is. There’s something super comforting about pasta and Sunday’s just seem like the perfect day to get some comfort before heading into the work week.
I know what you may be thinking. If this dish uses pasta, will I have to pre-cook it? Nope. Remember, I said this is a meal you can make in one dish so there’s no need to pre-cook the pasta. YES! You literally layer all of the ingredients in your baking dish and allow it to bake and thicken all together in the oven. It’s really simple.
A few notes about this broccoli and cheddar bake
I used oregano instead of thyme. Not for any particular reason but because that’s what I had and I like oregano. At the end of the recipe, you’ll be instructed to return the bake to the oven until it’s golden brown and the sauce has thickened. My bake returned to the oven for roughly 12 minutes. It’s important to keep in mind that oven times and temperatures will vary.
When it’s all done, I sprinkled a bit of red pepper flakes on top because I like a little spice. If you’d like to try your hand at this recipe, head over to Recipe Tin Eats and let me know how it goes!
