8 oz (about 2 cups) pasta (penne or rotini works well)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 cup heavy cream<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 cup chicken broth<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (plus extra for topping)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00bd cup grated Parmesan cheese<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2 cloves garlic, minced<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Salt and pepper to taste<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2 tablespoons olive oil<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00bd teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Preheat the Oven:<\/strong> Preheat your oven to 375\u00b0F (190\u00b0C).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cook the Pasta:<\/strong> In a large pot, cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prepare the Broccoli:<\/strong> If using fresh broccoli, steam or blanch it for about 2-3 minutes until tender. If using frozen, simply thaw and drain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make the Creamy Sauce:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and saut\u00e9 for about 1 minute until fragrant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stir in the heavy cream, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a simmer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Add the cooked chicken and broccoli, mixing well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stir in the cheddar and Parmesan cheese until melted and combined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Combine Pasta and Sauce:<\/strong> In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the creamy chicken and broccoli mixture. Mix until the pasta is well coated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Assemble the Bake:<\/strong> Transfer the pasta mixture into a greased 9\u00d713 inch baking dish. Sprinkle additional cheddar cheese on top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bake:<\/strong> Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until bubbly and golden on top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garnish and Serve:<\/strong> Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve warm!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enjoy your creamy broccoli and chicken pasta bake!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enjoy!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ingredients: 8 oz (about 2 cups) pasta (penne or rotini works well) 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced 2…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[13,12,6,9,7,8,14,10,11],"class_list":["post-655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-recipes","tag-challenge","tag-cheese","tag-food","tag-italian","tag-pasta","tag-pizza","tag-potatoes","tag-viral","tag-yum"],"yoast_head":"\n