This cheesy chicken and broccoli is a glorious one-pan dinner that tastes great and requires virtually no clean-up! So, it’s the perfect mid-week meal for when you’re too pooped to cook. Oh, and did I mention that it’s super creamy, packed with protein, and gets a burst of warmth from a sprinkle of nutmeg? Talk about dreamy.
This simple meal is made with just six ingredients, and it tastes amazing with fresh or leftover chicken. Along with being a breeze to shop for at the grocery store, this recipe is also ridiculously easy to make. You literally throw everything in a pan, stir, and you’ll have a tasty meal that’s ready to rumble.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a kid-friendly, veggie-packed dish or just need to prepare meals for the week, this recipe has got you covered. Now, let’s get cooking!
Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli
- It’s all made in a single pan for easy clean-up.
- The dish is packed with lean protein to keep you full until breakfast.
- It’s creamy, indulgent, and completely delicious.
- It stores well if you need leftovers to last the week.
- The recipe is ready quickly and is naturally low-carb.
Ingredients
The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.
- Broccoli: I prefer using fresh broccoli for this recipe, but you can substitute it for frozen if it’s all you have on hand.
- Chicken breasts: Gives your recipe plenty of tender, juicy protein!
- Milk: For a creamy, rich, and indulgent sauce.
- Mayonnaise: The mayonnaise adds extra richness to the sauce and gives it a dose of fat to keep things creamy.
- Cheddar cheese: Any type of cheddar will work well, but I suggest using one with a slightly higher fat content. If you don’t want to, feel free to stick with low-fat.
- Nutmeg: For a burst of warmth and spice.
- Salt and pepper: To taste.
How to Make Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli
- Step One: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli and boil for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Step Two: Add mayonnaise, milk, cheese, pepper and nutmeg to a pot over medium heat stirring constantly until cheese has melted. Add in broccoli and chicken and stir to coat and cook till heated through.
Equipment Needed
You may well have everything you need to pull this delicious cheesy chicken and broccoli dish together. But if you’re relatively new to cooking, you might want to pick up these basic tools before getting started.
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What to Serve with Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli
While this cheesy chicken and broccoli is delicious on its own, it also tastes great with these sides.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- If you don’t have fresh broccoli to hand, you can save time and effort by using frozen broccoli. It’s usually chopped, cleaned, and ready to cook!
- I highly recommend buying a block of cheese and grating it yourself. Pre-grated cheese usually contains a starch that makes melting it slightly trickier.
- For the juiciest chicken possible, tenderize your chicken with a meat mallet before cooking.
Variations and Substitutions
- While I love using cheddar cheese in this recipe, you can use whatever cheese you have on hand. Muenster cheese is particularly great in this dish.
- If you don’t have chicken breast to hand, use chicken thighs or drumsticks in this recipe. Just make sure you check the cooking times for these cuts before getting started.
- To add more savory flavors to your cheese sauce, you can add a small amount of chicken broth.
- Want more cheesiness? Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons over the dish before serving.
Storage Instructions
You can keep the leftover cheesy chicken and broccoli in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You should let it cool before placing it in the fridge. I highly recommend adding a small amount of milk or water to your container before reheating as it’ll keep things super moist.
Can I Freeze?
You sure can! Although frozen broccoli won’t freeze quite as well, it won’t lose much texture if you freeze it.
Move the portions over to airtight containers or freezer-safe bags before placing them in the freezer. I recommend storing the portions for no longer than 2 months.
Chicken Recipes
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Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli
Ingredients
- 2 heads broccoli cut into florets
- 3-4 chicken breasts cooked and chopped
- ⅓ cup milk
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 2 cups cheese shredded
- pinch nutmeg
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli and boil for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Add mayonnaise, milk, cheese, pepper and nutmeg to a pot over medium heat stirring constantly until cheese has melted. Add in broccoli and chicken and stir to coat and cook till heated through.
Equipment
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Did you make this recipe?
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