Description
A comforting chicken and broccoli pasta bake with a creamy sundried tomato sauce, topped with a crunchy almond and cheddar mixture, perfect for a hearty family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 350g pasta shells or quills
- 200g broccoli, cut into very small florets and stems thinly sliced
Protein and Dairy
- 350g boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- 80g soft cheese with garlic and herbs (such as Boursin)
- 284ml single cream
- 85g mature cheddar, grated
Other Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 175g chestnut mushrooms, quartered
- 4 tbsp sundried tomato paste
- Bunch of spring onions, finely sliced
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 50g flaked almonds
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and cook pasta: Preheat your oven to 190°C (gas mark 5, fan 170°C). Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the pasta, stir well, and boil for 6 minutes before adding the broccoli. Cook together for a further 5-6 minutes until the pasta is just tender. Drain thoroughly and return to the pan.
- Cook chicken and mushrooms: Heat olive oil in a wide pan over medium heat. Add the sliced chicken and fry until lightly browned on all sides. Add the quartered mushrooms and stir-fry for 1 minute.
- Make the sauce: Stir in the sundried tomato paste, soft garlic and herb cheese, and single cream into the pan. Gently simmer, stirring continuously until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Pour the creamy sauce over the cooked pasta and broccoli in the pan. Gently fold everything together ensuring the pasta is well coated.
- Prepare and apply topping: In a bowl, mix the finely sliced spring onions, grated cheddar, chopped garlic, and flaked almonds. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the pasta in a shallow ovenproof dish about 1.7 litres in capacity.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and crisp.
Notes
- For a variation, replace chicken and broccoli with cubed ham and green beans.
- If you prefer a richer sauce, add a little more soft cheese or cream.
- Ensure the pasta is just cooked before baking to prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Flaked almonds provide a crunchy topping, but you can substitute with breadcrumbs if preferred.
- This dish can be prepared in advance and baked just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: chicken pasta bake, broccoli pasta, creamy pasta bake, baked pasta recipe, easy chicken dinner
