Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake with Cheesy Almond Crust

A golden chicken and broccoli pasta bake will be a firm family favourite after you try this recipe using fresh herbs and vegetables, chicken thighs and melted mozzarella.

Ingredients

  • 1 LeaderBrand broccoli

  • 400g pasta

    such as penne

  • 1 tbsp oil

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs

    cut into strips

  • 1 red onion

    peeled, finely sliced

  • 1 clove garlic

    finely chopped

  • 2 cups milk

    warmed

  • 2 tbsp plain flour

  • 2 tbsp butter

  • 1 tbsp whole grain mustard

  • 150g mozzarella

    grated

  • 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

  • 1 cup ground almonds

  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley

  • Salt and pepper

    to season

Allergy Advice

Contains Dairy

Contains Gluten

Contains Nuts

Equipment

  • 1 Oven
  • 1 Large pan
  • 1 Wok
  • 1 Saucepan
  • 1 Ovenproof dish

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  2. Trim the broccoli and cut into florets. Cook the pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water for 10-12 minutes. Drain well.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a wok or large pan, add the chicken strips, onion and garlic and stir fry for 3-4 minutes until the meat is well browned and cooked through. Add the broccoli florets and toss until just starting to turn tender. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  4. Melt butter in a heated saucepan. Add the flour and mix to a paste. Add the milk to the pan and whisk over a medium heat until thickened and smooth. Stir in the mustard and about half of the cheese and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
  5. Add the chicken and vegetables, with the sauce, to the drained pasta and mix together. Spoon into an ovenproof dish.
  6. Mix together the ground almonds, remaining cheese and chopped parsley. Sprinkle over the pasta and bake in the oven for 20 minutes until golden and bubbling.

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