Cheese and Broccoli Pasta
A very simple Chicken, Cheese and Broccoli Pasta Bake with Red Peppers that is perfect for a mid week meal.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 500 g Pasta Boiled, Drain but reserve 1/4 cup of the water
Veg
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 2 Onions Diced
- 1.5 tsp Crushed Garlic
- 2 lb Chicken Breast Cut into strips
- 1 Red Pepper Cut into strips
- 1/2 Broccoli Chopped into florets
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika Optional
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper Optional
- 1 tsp Dried Oregano or Mixed Herbs
- Salt and Pepper
White Sauce
- 80 g Butter
- 80 g Plain Flour
- Salt and Pepper
- 800 ml Double Cream or Milk
Topping
- 200 g Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
Pasta and Veg
- Heat oil in pot over medium high heat and add the butter.
- Add the onions and cook until lightly golden (around 7 minutes).
- Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 minutes before adding the chicken.
- Saute for 5 minutes, then add the red pepper and broccoli.
- Cook for 3 - 4 minutes and add Paprika, Cayenne Pepper, Mixed Herbs and Salt & Pepper.
- Stir for 2 - 3 minutes and then stir in the pasta and water. Remove from heat.
White Sauce
- In a seperate pot over medium low heat, melt the butter.
- Whisk the flour into the melted butter and season.
- Cook over low heat and continue to stir. Skipping this step results in a floury taste.
- The mixture will begin to thicken slowly. Continue to cook over a low heat, checking every 20 - 30 seconds.
- When the mixture hasn't thickened, turn up the heat slightly, then slowly add the cream, stirring continuously.
- Bring to a low simmer and continue cooking over a low heat till thickened. Around 10 minutes.
Assemble and Bake
- Preheat oven to Gas Mark 5, 190 C.
- Pour the white sauce into the pasta and mix through.
- Add the mixture to an oven proof dish. I used a square 25cm one.
- Sprinkle over the cheese.
- Bake for 25 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.
Notes
Recipe Notes:
- Pasta - any shape pasta is fine here. Aside from Spaghetti/Linguine.
- Broccoli - Cauliflower would also work in this recipe.
- Cheese - Cheddar. Mozzarella or any cheese that melts well will work.
- Herbs - I love Oregano in this recipe but mixed herbs work well too.
- A spoonful of Dijon Mustard mixed in with the white sauce works really well too.
- Milk can be used in place of Double Cream.
Nutrition
Calories: 833kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 38gFat: 45gSaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 174mgSodium: 446mgPotassium: 770mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 2525IUVitamin C: 74mgCalcium: 323mgIron: 3mg
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