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Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Bake Recipe! - macaroni cheese - Macaroni cheese: Bake this ultimate creamy chicken, broccoli, and macaroni dish in under an hour. Easy

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Bake Recipe!

This Baked Macaroni Cheese with Chicken & Broccoli is the ultimate comfort food recipe for busy weeknights. It delivers a rich, creamy, cheesy pasta dish packed with tender chicken and fresh broccoli, all cooked in a single pot for minimal cleanup. Perfect for families, this macaroni cheese recipe is straightforward and incredibly satisfying. You'll love the deep flavor and hearty texture that makes this a go-to meal.
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb / 500g skinless chicken breast or thigh fillets (, cut into bite size pieces)
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 2 garlic cloves (, minced)
  • 1 small onion (, finely chopped)
  • 4 tbsp plain flour
  • 2 1/2 cups milk (, low fat)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Black pepper

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
  2. Heat olive oil in a deep heavy based skillet or dutch oven over high heat. Add chicken and cook until just cooked (it's fine if it's still raw inside). Remove chicken into a bowl.
  3. Reduce heat to medium and melt butter. Add garlic and onion and saute for 5 minutes until onion is translucent. Add flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  4. Pour in half the milk and whisk it in until the flour butter mixture melts. It should thicken quickly. Pour the remaining milk in, whisking constantly, then add the water, salt and pepper.
  5. Turn the heat up to medium high and cook, whisking occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes until you start seeing steam rising from the white sauce when you whisk it.
  6. Add the macaroni and chicken to the skillet, stir to combine, then top with broccoli florets.
  7. Place the lid on the skillet and bake for 20 minutes.
  8. Remove from oven, switch oven to broiler/grill on high.

Notes

- For an extra cheesy crust, sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top before broiling.
- Ensure your sauce is thick before adding the pasta; it will loosen up during baking.
- This dish reheats beautifully. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 175°C/350°F for 10-15 minutes.