November 16, 2024

Healthier Chicken And Broccoli Alfredo Casserole

You won’t miss the extra calories with this Healthier Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Casserole. This popular comfort food made a little lighter for a guilt-free dinner.

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What You’ll Love About Healthier Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Casserole:

Healthier chicken alfredo option
Loaded with pasta, chicken and broccoli
Easy to make and perfect for busy nights
Family friendly, your kiddos will love this one
No heavy cream
Makes great leftovers

I strategically planned to share this recipe smack dab in the middle of the holiday season, which we all know is a time of year for gathering around rich foods, drink, and treats. It’s important we have healthier options to balance our diets. At least we can try, right?

This Healthier Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Casserole takes all the flavors, creaminess, and cheesiness we love about pasta alfredo, with a lighter twist. It practically comes together in one-skillet thanks to my microwave pasta maker so I don’t have to dirty two pots.

Classic chicken alfredo can have nearly 1,500 calories or more per serving, so why not enjoy what you love with half the guilt, more nutrition, and still satisfying in every way.

Keep scrolling to find all the details, ingredients list, and tips below!

Also, if you enjoy creamy chicken recipes, try my popular Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Rice Casserole. A one-pot meal with over 100,000k views on YouTube and 5-star reviews!

Simple Ingredients:

Ingredients list. whole grain penne pasta, fresh broccoli, cooked chicken breast, low-fat cream cheese, fresh parsley, chicken broth, Italian cheese blend, onions and garlic, whole milk, butter, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, umami seasoning blend, red pepper flakes.

Pasta- I use whole grain penne pasta for added nutrition. Feel free to substitute with your favorite medium shape pasta.
Butter- This recipe only calls for two tablespoons of butter. This is used to sauté your onions and garlic.
Onions and garlic- Aromatics to give the pasta dish great flavor.
Broccoli- Fresh broccoli is best for this recipe and truly makes this a complete meal.
Broth- You’ll want to use chicken broth to help steam and cook the broccoli.
Milk- I use whole milk but you can also use 2%. I would not recommend using fat-free or even 1%.
Seasonings- Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, Umami seasoning blend, and red pepper flakes for heat.
Cheese- Low-fat cream cheese gives this dish a velvety creaminess while keeping it a little lighter. I also use Italian cheese blend, which include- parmesan, asiago, mozzarella, fontina, Romano, and provolone.
Pasta water- You’ll want to reserve your pasta water for this recipe as it helps create the creamy sauce.
Chicken- This recipe calls for cooked chicken breast to make it faster and healthier. Try a rotisserie from the grocery store or use up leftover cooked chicken breast or thighs.
Fresh herbs- I love to add fresh parsley to offer freshness and use for garnish.

Substitutions and Additions:

Gluten Free- Aside from the pasta this dish is completely gluten-free so feel free to add your favorite cooked gf pasta. You will still want to reserve the cooking liquid for the sauce.
Veggies- If you don’t want to use broccoli other veggies that work in this recipe are- fresh spinach, kale, cauliflower, mushrooms, and zucchini.
Seasonings- Have fun with the seasonings. Some include- garlic and onion powder, oregano, thyme, all-purpose seasoning blend, dried parsley, etc.

How To Make Healthier Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Casserole:

See full instructions in recipe card below

Step One. Cook pasta according to package directions for al’ dente. Make sure to set aside 1 1/2 cups of cooked pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.

Step Two. In a large deep skillet with a fitted lid melt butter and cook onions and garlic. Add broccoli and chicken broth. Bring to a low simmer and place the lid on. Cook until crisp tender.

Cooked onions, garlic, butter, and added raw broccoli

Step Three. To the broccoli add the cream cheese, milk, pasta water, and seasonings. Stir until the cream cheese is melted. Add Italian cheese and stir until melted.

Skillet with cooked broccoli, cream cheese, pasta water, seasonings, and milk combined.

Step Four. Gently stir in cooked pasta and chicken until well coated then top with additional Italian cheese and garnish with parsley. Allow the cheese to melt off the heat and serve.

Complete Chicken and broccoli alfredo skillet meal

Important Tips:

💡Make sure cream cheese is super soft. I like to pop my room temperature cream cheese in the microwave to make it even softer. This will help it melt a lot faster and prevent over mixing the broccoli which can cause the florets to break apart.
💡Don’t overcook pasta. Make sure to only cook pasta just until al’ dente or even slightly under. As you add the pasta to the hot cream sauce it will soften a touch more for the perfect doneness.
💡Keep an eye on the broccoli so it doesn’t become mushy. You’ll want to steam your broccoli with the chicken broth until crisp tender. It should still have a bright green color. See image above. This step takes about 5-minutes.
💡If you want to brown the top of the casserole. Some prefer to brown the cheese on top after the dish is put together. Make sure to use a skillet that is oven safe for broiling and broil on high for 1-2 minutes making sure to keep an eye on it.
💡Make sure heat isn’t too high when you add the cream cheese, milk, and broth. If the heat is too high on your skillet when you add the milk and cream cheese you risk burning the milk and evaporating the liquid too quickly.

Common Questions:

🗨Can I make this dish ahead and freeze it?

I would not recommend freezing this dish. The added dairy and pasta combination once frozen and thawed will not have the same texture as fresh.

🗨How long do leftovers last?

Place in the refrigerator in a sealed container up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for another delicious meal.

🗨Can I use frozen broccoli?

Yes you can use thawed frozen broccoli, however, fresh has the best texture and flavor.

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