Chicken & broccoli pasta bake
Cooking time
Ready in about 40 minsSkill level
EasyServings
Serves 4This dish can be assembled ready for baking a good few hours ahead - and it's all cooked in one pan
Nutrition and extra info
Nutrition
- kcalories
- 665
- protein
- 37g
- carbs
- 71g
- fat
- 27g
- saturates
- 10g
- fibre
- 4g
- sugar
- 0g
- salt
- 0.42g
Ingredients
- 350g pasta shells or quills
- 200g broccoli, cut into very small florets and the stems thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 350g boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- 175g chestnut mushrooms, quartered
- 4 tbsp sundried tomato paste
- 80g pkt soft cheese with garlic and herbs (such as Boursin)
- 284ml carton single cream
For the topping
- bunch of spring onions, finely sliced
- 85g mature cheddar, grated
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 50g flaked almonds
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Method
- Preheat the oven to 190C/gas 5/fan170C. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Throw in the pasta, stir well and return to the boil. Cook for 6 minutes, then add the broccoli and cook for 5-6 minutes more until the pasta is just cooked. Drain well, then return to the pan.
- Heat the oil in a wide pan, add the chicken pieces and fry until lightly browned. Tip in the mushrooms and stir fry for 1 minute, then stir in the tomato paste, cheese and cream. Gently simmer, stirring, until the cheese has melted to thicken the sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour the sauce over the pasta, stirring gently until coated, then tip into a shallow ovenproof dish (about 1.7 litre capacity) and level the top.
- Mix the spring onions, cheddar, garlic and almonds for the topping and sprinkle over the pasta. Bake for 20 minutes until golden.
Recipe from Good Food magazine, September 2002
Comments, questions and tips
Comments
Made this tonight and it went down well with the whole family (especially my 10 month old baby!) I used a few subs - didn't have sundried tomato paste, so just used normal tomato puree. Used Philly with chives instead of Boursin. Didn't have any flaked almonds or garlic so sprinkled it with crushed cornflakes, and used finely chopped red onion instead of spring onions. Just thinking it's probably nothing like the original recipe now ha ha!
As others said earlier, it does dry up a bit when it cools down so best eaten fresh, but just add a bit of milk when reheating to put some moisture into it and it's fine. Will definitely make it again and freeze the leftovers.
Just had this tonight and was very disappointed. Sauce had no flavour at all yet I used the quantities stated. Like the addition of the broccoli but would use more/stronger cheese next time.
Didnt use the almonds as I cant bear nuts but maybe would try with a few crushed up crisps on the top fo some added crunch.
Waste of boursin tho, should have had it on toast instead!
Yes this was nice, but like others sauce was overpowered by the pasta. I didn't increase the quantities as I was making this for myself. I had to change a few things, I used tomato purée, a plain soft cheese that I had in adding garlic and some herbs to myself, no flaked almonds but bread crumbs for that extra crunch. I also made a huge error and forgot to defrost my chicken but all in all I enjoyed it. If I do this again I will make sure I add chicken and I would considor increasing the sauce as a lot of people suggested. My partner would prefer some meat in it!
This is a firm favourite in our house, real comfort food. Great way to make 2 chicken breasts stretch to 4 people. Good as left overs too! My teenage son had it cold as a salad in his lunch box.
Tried with pine nuts but toasted almonds are better. Also forgot to add the sundried tomato paste once and it was still delicious!
I do tend to add more cream and cheese than stated otherwise it can be a little dry. I'll try adding some white wine next time.
Try this you won't be dissapointed
