Cheesy Chicken Casserole
This Cheesy Chicken Casserole is creamy, cheesy and packed with tender chicken, crisp-tender broccoli and perfectly cooked pasta. A rich homemade cheese sauce brings everything together for a comforting, crowd-pleasing bake.
This is the kind of cozy dinner you make on busy weeknights, chilly evenings or anytime you need a full meal the whole family will happily dig into. It's simple enough for a regular night of the week but comforting enough to feel like a classic family dinner.
If you love cozy casseroles like this one, try our Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole or Buffalo Chicken Pasta, they are always a hit.
Jump to:
Ingredients
This recipe uses everyday ingredients that come together with ease.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Pasta: Forms the hearty base of the casserole and soaks up the creamy sauce.
- Broccoli Florets: Add a tender bite that balances the richness.
- Chicken Breasts: A lean protein option..
- All-Purpose Flour: Thickens the sauce.
- Chicken Broth: Adds savory flavor without making the sauce too heavy.
- Cheeses: Brings bold and melty texture.
Grab yourself a 9x13 casserole, large skillet, pot and strainer for this simple pasta dish.
Variations
- Rotisserie Chicken: Use cooked rotisserie chicken to save time on busy nights.
- Extra Crunch: Sprinkle buttered bread crumbs or crushed crackers on top before baking.
- Different Veggies: Swap broccoli for bell peppers, peas, zucchini or spinach for a different twist.
- Rice Swap: Replace pasta with cooked brown rice for a different take.
How to Make Cheesy Chicken Casserole
This casserole comes together easily with a quick stovetop sauce and a short bake in the oven.
Preheat oven to 375F and lightly spray a 9x13 casserole dish.
Boil water in a large pot and cook pasta 2 minutes before desired cook time (I usually do about 2 minutes before al dente), then place the broccoli into the pasta water and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Strain all and transfer to the casserole dish.
While the pasta and broccoli are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt butter, then add chicken and onion to the pan. When the chicken is almost cooked add garlic, salt and ground pepper, and cook for 1 minute.
Sprinkle in flour and cook for another minute, then pour milk and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to keep a rolling boil until the sauce thickens (about 5 minutes).
Shut the heat off and mix in 1 cup of cheddar, 1 cup mozzarella and parmesan cheese, then pour over the pasta and broccoli.
Top with the remaining cheeses and cover with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until bubbling. If desired, remove the foil and broil to lightly brown the cheese.
Hint: Slightly undercooked pasta finishes perfectly in the oven without getting mushy.
Recipe Tips
- Cook Pasta Just Short of Al Dente: Slightly undercooked pasta finishes perfectly in the oven without getting mushy.
- Warm Milk and Broth: Using room-temperature liquids helps the sauce thicken smoothly.
- Don't Skip the Simmer: Letting the sauce bubble briefly ensures it coats everything evenly.
- Even Cheese Layers: Mixing some cheese into the sauce and saving some for the top gives the best texture.
- Rest Before Serving: Letting the casserole sit for a few minutes helps it set and slice cleanly.
One recipe readers always come back to is our Southwest Chicken Casserole.
More Mains
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer: Using a freezer-safe container, store for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
- Reheating: Warm in the oven at 325F until heated through or reheat individual portions in the microwave.
Serving Suggestions
- Fresh Sides: Cheesy Garlic Bread, Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots,
- Comfort Sides: Idahoan Mashed Potatoes, Honey and Brown Sugar Roasted Carrots or Brussels Sprouts Casserole.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely, it is a great shortcut. Stir cooked chicken into the sauce just before baking.
Cheddar and mozzarella are classic, but a blend with Monterey Jack also works well.
More Recipes
Ready to get cooking? Save time by having a grocery list automatically generate for you by clicking the "Add to Shopping List" below.
Cheesy Chicken Casserole
Equipment
- 9x13 casserole dish
- Large Pot and Strainer
- Cheese Grater
- Large Skillet
Ingredients
- 12 ounces pasta dry measurement
- 4 cups broccoli florets about 1 head
- ½ stick butter unsalted
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast cut into small pieces
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth low sodium
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded, divided
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F and lightly spray a 9x13 casserole dish.
- Boil water in a large pot and cook pasta 2 minutes before desired cook time (I usually do 2 minutes before al dente), then place the broccoli into the pasta water and cook for 2 minutes. Strain all and transfer to the casserole dish.
- While the pasta and broccoli are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt butter, then add chicken and onion to the pan. When the chicken is almost cooked add garlic, salt and ground pepper, and cook for 1 minute.
- Sprinkle in flour and cook for another minute, then pour milk and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to keep a rolling boil until the sauce thickens (about 5 minutes).
- Shut the heat off and mix in 1 cup of cheddar, 1 cup mozzarella and parmesan cheese, then pour over the pasta and broccoli.
- Top with the remaining cheeses and cover with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until bubbling. If desired, remove the foil and broil to lightly brown the cheese.
Notes
- Cook Pasta Just Short of Al Dente: Slightly undercooked pasta finishes perfectly in the oven without getting mushy.
- Warm Milk and Broth: Using room-temperature liquids helps the sauce thicken smoothly.
- Don't Skip the Simmer: Letting the sauce bubble briefly ensures it coats everything evenly.
- Even Cheese Layers: Mixing some cheese into the sauce and saving some for the top gives the best texture.
- Rest Before Serving: Letting the casserole sit for a few minutes helps it set and slice cleanly.
Nutrition
Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating and comment below, I'd love to hear how it turned out for you!
The whole family loved this one! I used Catelli Protein+ Penne and it worked out perfectly. We loved the creaminess and I will definitely be adding it to our regular dinner rotation.
We love that idea. Thanks for sharing your modifications and review!
This cheesy chicken and broccoli pasta is so good! We loved the flavor and I loved that it was an easy dinner on a busy weeknight. Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks for the review, it is a nice simple one! Glad you enjoyed it.
This sounds so comforting! I love that it’s cheesy, creamy, and full of chicken and broccoli, perfect for a cozy dinner.
If you love simple recipes, you will love this. Hope you make it soon.
Easy to make, good flavour.
We’ll be making this one again.
It is so wonderful you enjoyed it so much. Thanks for the review.
My family loved this recipe! Creamy and hearty!
So happy you all enjoyed it. Such a good one.
The was so cozy and comforting! I ended up using veggie broth and some chopped up plant-based chicken tenders and it was so darn good! So perfect for these cold winter days.
Those are wonderful subs to make it vegetarian! Thanks for the review and letting me know, it is helpful for other readers.
This is perfect for a cold weeknight! Love the flavor!
So happy you enjoyed it Hannah! Thanks for the review.
This recipe makes a really good portioned size for a family, so if you're making this for 2 people, I'd probably half the recipe portions. I used the Catelli protein pasta with this meal and it still turned out really good, I liked the prompt to remove the pasta 2 minutes earlier. I also used Lactose free milk but that didn't prevent the sauce from thickening. Chicken broccoli casserole is one of my favourite casserole recipes but I have to say this one probably has the best flavour of any other recipes I've tried.
Caitlin! Thank you so much for the review, I am so thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed it! And for letting us know the spin you put on this dish, it can really help other readers who might want to try it like you did!
I was looking for a version that doesn't use canned soup, and this was amazing!
Canned soup ones can be a great shortcut, but we love the freshness when making it without. So happy you experienced that too.
This was a great weeknight meal! It came together fast and while it was baking I was able to throw a salad together. It's a keeper.
That is such a perfect balance too. So happy you loved it as much as we do.
This was so creamy and cheesy, my kids loved it!
I love a simple and kid-approved recipe! Thanks for the review.
Loving this cheesy chicken casserole, perfect for dinner!
Thank you for the review - simple dinners are a staple here! Glad you all enjoyed it.
I love how simple this recipe is to make! It takes no time to prep, cook the chicken, and get everything into the pan. It is the right amount of creamy and cheesy.