BBQ chicken and broccoli cheesey pasta bake

Serves:

An absolute winner for the whole family, this quick and easy chicken pasta bake can use leftovers and any pasta you like. Kids will LOVE this easy dinner.

Ingredients

• 3 cups BBQ chicken meat, shredded
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 and half cups tasty cheese, plus half a cup more for topping, both grated
• 350 g macaroni, cooked and drained
• 1 cup onion, finely chopped
• 50g butter
• 3 cups whole milk
• 3 tablespoons flour
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon butter

Method

Preheat oven to 180C. Grease a 23cm springform pan and set aside.

Bring a heavy-based saucepan to medium heat and add butter. Once butter is melted, add flour and whisk with a fork until smooth.

Lower heat slightly and slowly whisk in milk, salt and pepper. Allow to cook stirring constantly until its thickened, about ten minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 and half cups of grated cheese then set aside.

In a large pot or bowl, mix together the pasta, chicken, onions, broccoli, cheesy sauce and pour into the prepared pan, patting down with a spoon. Sprinkle with last half cup of grated cheese.

In a small saucepan melt the extra teaspoon of butter and stir in breadcrumbs. Sprinkle over the bake and place in the oven for 40 minutes or until the topping is lovely and golden.

Allow to cool for at least ten minutes before removing the ring carefully. Let cool another ten minutes and then, using a spatula, slide the bake off the pan base onto a platter. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes:

• Springform pans are available at Kmart for around ten dollars. If you don‰t have a springform pan, you can use a normal lasagne dish or casserole dish – just be sure to butter it well before you fill it with ingredients.
• I love using a Japanese-style breadcrumbs as a topping for a bake like this or macaroni and cheese as they are so crunchy and beautiful. You can find these in the Asian section at the larger grocery stores. If you can‰t find them, it is totally acceptable, of course, to make your own fresh chunky breadcrumbs or use whatever you have on hand!

This recipe was created by Kristine Duran-Thiessen for Kidspot, New Zealand‰s best recipe finder.

Serving Suggestions

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