Chicken broccoli casserole

Chicken and broccoli baked in a creamy garlic sauce under melted cheddar.

  • Have some energy
  • Gluten-free
  • American
  • Dinner
  • Chicken
  • Keto
  • Low carb
  • High protein
  • Meal prep
  • Superfood
Hands-on
22 min
Total time
63 min, show breakdown
  • Prep 20 min
  • Cook 35 min
  • Clean up 8 min
Pans
1
Ingredients
7
Cost/serving
$3.31

Per serving

Calories
409
Protein
46 g
Fiber
4 g
Net carbs
7.6 g
Fat
20 g

High in (% Daily Value per serving): Vitamin C 149%, Vitamin K 129%, Niacin (B3) 97%, Vitamin B6 90%, Selenium 86%, Riboflavin (B2) 45%, Vitamin B12 29%, Folate 28%, Zinc 25%, Calcium 23%, Potassium 22%, Thiamin (B1) 22%, Vitamin A 20%, Magnesium 20%

Full nutrition facts, vitamins and minerals. All nutrition is estimated; check your own labels.

Already egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free.

Ingredients for 4

Tap an ingredient for other units and forms.

  • 3 breasts chicken breast, boneless skinless (600 g)
  • 2 crowns broccoli (600 g)

    Same amount as: about 6½ cups.

  • 4 tbsp cream cheese (58 g), softened

    Same amount as: 60 mL.

  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth (120 g)

    Same amount as: 120 mL.

  • 1 cup cheddar, grated (113 g)

    Same amount as: 240 mL.

  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed (6 g)

    Same amount as: 2 tsp fresh minced garlic, 1 tsp jarred minced garlic, ¼ tsp garlic powder.

  • 1 tsp olive oil (4.5 g)

    Same amount as: 5 mL.

  • salt, to taste
  • black pepper, to taste

Find alternative ingredients

Quantities are for 4 servings. Fits a 23 × 33 cm (9 × 13 in) dish. Keeps 4 days in the fridge. Reheat covered.

Nutrition Facts

4 servings per recipe

Serving size 1 plate (376 g raw)

NutrientPer serving% DV*Whole recipe
Calories409
Total fat20 g26%
Saturated fat9.3 g47%
Cholesterol154 mg51%
Sodium481 mg21%
Total carbohydrate12 g4%
Dietary fiber4 g14%
Total sugars3.2 g
Net carbs†7.6 g
Protein46 g92%
Vitamin D0.41 mcg2%
Calcium298 mg23%
Iron1.9 mg10%
Potassium1,049 mg22%
Vitamin A180 mcg20%
Vitamin C134 mg149%
Vitamin E2 mg13%
Vitamin K154 mcg129%
Thiamin (B1)0.26 mg22%
Riboflavin (B2)0.59 mg45%
Niacin (B3)16 mg97%
Vitamin B61.5 mg90%
Folate110 mcg28%
Vitamin B120.69 mcg29%
Magnesium84 mg20%
Zinc2.8 mg25%
Selenium47 mcg86%

Estimated, not verified. These numbers are calculated from typical ingredient data and haven't been checked against a lab or your brands. Check the labels of what you buy and confirm anything that matters to you, especially sodium, sugar and allergens.

* % Daily Value shows how much one serving adds to a 2,000-calorie day. † Net carbs is not on US labels; it is total carbs minus fiber, allulose, erythritol and half of other sugar alcohols. "To taste" amounts are counted as written. Counted items (eggs, cloves, spoons) use the rounded amount shown in the ingredient list. Vitamins and minerals are from raw ingredients; cooking lowers some, especially vitamin C and folate. How this is calculated.

Steps

  1. Heat the oven to 200 °C / 400 °F. Rub the dish with the oil. Take the cream cheese out of the fridge to soften.

  2. Cut the chicken into 2 cm (¾ in) cubes. Cut the broccoli into small florets. Mince the garlic. Grate the cheddar.

  3. In the dish, stir the cream cheese, broth, garlic, salt and pepper until smooth.

    Done looks like: No lumps of cream cheese left.
  4. Add the chicken and broccoli and toss to coat. Spread in an even layer. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.

  5. Take off the foil and stir. Scatter the cheddar over the top. Bake 12–15 minutes more.

    Done looks like: Cheese bubbling and browned in spots. The biggest chicken piece reads 74 °C / 165 °F.

Equipment

Baking dish, about 20 × 20 cm (8 × 8 in) $10–25

What to look for

  • Glass or ceramic, oven-safe
  • Fits your oven with room around it

Skip: Non-stick coated metal dishes; glass lasts longer.

Box grater $10–20

What to look for

  • Four sides, including a coarse side for cheese and vegetables
  • Stable base that does not slide

Skip: Rotary graters. A box grater does more.

Instant-read digital thermometer $10–30

What to look for

  • Reads in 5 seconds or less
  • Thin probe tip
  • Shows °C and °F

Skip: Dial thermometers that take 20+ seconds.

Chef's knife, 20 cm (8 in) $15–50

What to look for

  • Comfortable handle that does not slip when wet
  • Blade you can sharpen, or a cheap one you replace every few years

Skip: Knife blocks with 12 knives. A chef's knife and a small paring knife cover almost everything.

Cutting board $10–30

What to look for

  • At least 30 × 40 cm (12 × 16 in), so food stays on it
  • Wood or plastic; plastic goes in the dishwasher

Skip: Glass or stone boards. They dull knives fast.

What goes wrong

WhatCauseFix
Watery casseroleWet or thawed frozen broccoli.Dry fresh broccoli well after washing. Drain and pat thawed broccoli dry.
Lumpy sauceCream cheese still cold.Let it soften 20 minutes, or warm it 15 seconds in the microwave.

Versions

VersionChangesPer serving
OriginalAs written. Hands-on 22 min, total 63 min.409 kcal
46 g protein
4 g fiber
7.6 g net carbs
20 g fat
Higher carbAdd cooked white rice (microwave pouch). Hands-on 22 min, total 63 min.571 kcal
50 g protein
4.5 g fiber
42 g net carbs
20 g fat

Notes

Allergies: removing an allergen from the recipe does not remove it from your kitchen or from other products. Check labels for "may contain" warnings.

Pregnancy: Cook chicken to at least 74 °C / 165 °F. Use pasteurized cream cheese.