Easy Chicken Broccoli Bake
This Easy Chicken Broccoli Bake is a comfort food casserole at it's best. It's a great way to use up leftover chicken and calls for fresh broccoli bringing a pretty green twist to an old fashioned favorite.
It's not often I make a casserole. But sometimes a casserole is exactly what you need.
Casseroles are also the greatest things you can ever bring to a friend in need. The neighbor that just had a baby, the friend who's having surgery, the other friend whose baby needs a liver + a kidney and also whose husband is battling Stage 4 colon cancer... yeah.
So some of you probably remember back in 2013 when I made this Kick Ass Chicken Lasagna as part of a potluck fundraising effort for my friend Ashley at Center Cut Cook. When I, along with some of my favorite food blogger friends, learned that Ashley's husband of then 10 years, her high school sweetheart that hadn't even hit 30 yet, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer, our hearts were just breaking.
When I found out she'd just learned they were expecting their first baby my heart crumpled into 1000 pieces.
But Ashley, positive thinking little trooper that she is soldiered on, took care of her husband, and even made us some chicken sandwiches.
Miles, her sweet little boy arrived in August 2014. They had to schedule his birth around her husband's chemo schedule.
Then in October 2014 Ashley & Ryan's whole world got turned upside down again when Miles had a seizure. And after too much time in the hospital and way too many tests, these two new parents who already have a much fuller plate than most, learned that their little miracle boy needed both a kidney transplant and a liver transplant.
You guys. I just can't even.
Time has passed, they have spent way too much time in and out of hospitals, Ryan is still receiving chemotherapy, and Miles is getting really close to his kidney and liver transplants.
And so we, the food blogging community, in an effort to do the thing we know how to do best, made a bunch of food to virtually fill up the Wagner family's fridge.
Casseroles and comfort foods and all the kinds of things you would bring to your neighbors, your friends, your people that need to NOT think about cooking dinner.
It's hard when you want to help and you are so far away. We wish we could show up for the Wagner family in so many ways -- help to walk the dogs, bring reading material to waiting rooms, drop off much-needed cups of coffee, and run all the endless errands (if you guys knew how much time Ashley was spending in the car driving, commuting to hospitals here recently... whoa.)
There is a way we can help though; a super simple way to let the Wagner family know how much we care. Through the food, through the writing, and through this little fundraising effort to help cover the insurmountable medical costs incurred by cancer treatments and organ transplants.
If every person that came here to read about an Easy Chicken Broccoli Bake left just $1 we could put a HUGE dent in expenses and take that stress off our friend's back.
If you'd like to help you can take just a second to donate below.
You guys. I would L.O.V.E. to see us hit that goal. And I swear just $1 from each of you lovelies would totally do it.
Other ways you can help include following Team Ryan on Facebook and surfing around Center Cut Cook for Ashley's crazy awesome recipes. Remember Chocolate Lasagna? Yeah she did that.
Or you can make this Easy Chicken Broccoli Bake and share.
You can also surf the other recipes meant to fill the Wagner family's fridge. If you need some super awesome comfort food this is totally your one-stop-shop.
That Skinny Chick Can Bake made Mexican Chicken Manicotti
Food faith & Fitness made a Paleo Casserole with Turkey, Peppers, Zucchini, and Tomato
Spend with Pennies made Chicken Noodle Casserole (from Scratch)
Wishes & Dishes made this Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini
Frugal Foodie Mama made Pizza Pierogi Casserole
Snappy Gourmet made Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta Casserole
Miss in the Kitchen made a Chicken and Mushroom Tortellini Bake
Life, Love, and Good Food made this Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
Bless This Mess made Quick and Easy Summer Chicken Salad
Mandy's Recipe Box collected 30 Freezer Meals
Hugs and Cookies made Baked Parmesan Meatball Casserole
Barbara Bakes made this Veal & Wild Mushroom Stew
A Cedar Spoon made Sausage, Roasted Red Pepper, & Gouda Macaroni & Cheese
It's Yummi made an Easy Cheese & Sausage Pizza Bake
A Family Feast made these Easy Freezer Meatballs
Stuck on Sweet made Homemade Goulash
Two Healthy Kitchens made a 5-Ingredient Easy Pasta Bake
It Bakes Me Happy made a Peach Skillet Galette
- 8 ounces uncooked egg noodles (**See Note**)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
- 5 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 8 ounces sour cream (can use light)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt (I used Nature's Blend -- so good & with less salt)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs + 1 tablespoon oil
- '
- Preheat the oven to 350. Spray a 2½ quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Start a large stock pot of water and cook the egg noodles according to package instructions.
- While the noodles cook, heat the oil in a medium skillet. Add the chicken pieces and cook for about 5 minutes, or until cooked through. Take the chicken off the burner and drain the pasta.
- Add the cooked pasta, cooked chicken, fresh broccoli, cream of mushroom soup, sour crea, black pepper, and seasoned salt. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup of the cheddar cheese. Stir and pour everything into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1 cup cheddar. Combine the breadcrumbs + olive oil and sprinkle over the top.
- Bake for 30 minutes. If you like your breadcrumbs toasty you can broil for 1-2 minutes before taking the casserole from the oven.
Thanks for being awesome. Thanks for any help you can offer. You guys are the best.
Sounds delicious and I hope to make soon! Thank you for sharing!!
Donation sent to them along with hugs, prayers, and love!
Thank you SO much Tracy!
Heather, I can't thank you enough for putting this together. She is lucky to have a friend like you, to gather a group of us to help bring awareness. Ashley is truly inspiring - I just wish I could give her a big hug!! Please pass one along to her from Shelley and me the next time you see her. 🙂
My mom used to make a chicken noodle casserole that I loved growing up. I had nearly forgotten about it! Yours is quite different and I can't wait to try it, and then make my mom's again! Love the broccoli in it, too, so smart to honestly have a one-dish meal!
Hi Gretchen!! You are so sweet! I am so thankful for the group that participated in this. You guys are so great and I appreciate you!!
Heather, thanks so much for sharing your heart and for organizing this awesome fundraiser in honor of the Wagners! Your chicken broccoli bake looks absolutely delicious -- but, of course! I feel honored to have been a part of this project.
Love this casserole and it's traditional flavors! So glad to be a part of this special fundraiser for Ashley! Thanks again for reaching out!
Thanks so much Jessica! I am so glad you were able to participate! Thanks so much for contributing!
Your post is beautiful and your recipe looks amazing! Thank you for all of your help on this wonderful project! xo
Thanks so much Danielle!!
What a seriously great recipe! I love chicken and broccoli and the idea of baking it is great. Thanks so much for putting this together.
These are all of my favorite flavors in one amazing casserole, thanks for organizing this effort 🙂
My favorites too Emily! Thank you so much for being a part of it!!
Casseroles really just hit the spot sometimes. I don't make them often either but sometimes it's all that will do. Thank you so much for setting this up, Heather! I hope Ashley feels so loved today thanks to you coordinating this!
Thank you for helping Ashley! Chicken Tetrazzini is awesommmmme.
This looks just delicious! Thanks for putting this together. I am excited to see what gets raised!
I'm excited, too!! Thank you so much for contributing Mandy!
Hi, firstly my heart completely goes out to this family and they will remain in my prayers, secondly I maybe understand a little as my husband underwent emergency surgery whilst we were on holiday with 3 young children, he had stage 3 Colon Cancer as is living proof that God really does answer prayers. As I'm in England I'm going to see how I can donate. This post is the very reason I set up my website http://www.feastingisfun.com so that we can help, share, remember and show love in a practical way, through food. I applaud everyone for collaborating and showing this family real love in a complete time of crisis. Sammie xxx
Oh hi Sammie! Thank you so much for your sweet and thoughtful comment. So happy you and your family came out on the other side. Going to check out your site now!!
Thank you so much for organizing this! Going through all the creative recipes now! Hope we can all make even a small difference for this sweet family!
Thank YOU Lisa!! Everything looks so tasty! And I really hope so too. I'm so happy I got to work with you!
Heather, I get teary every time I read their story. Thanks SO much for organizing this event---fingers crossed that together we can make a difference! xo
Oh man, Liz. The tears are so real. Thank you so much for being a part of this! Your manicotti looks straight up AMAZING.
I'm right there with you in the "my heart is breaking" category, Heather. I wish we could snap our fingers and make everything better for our sweet girlyfriend and her boys. Let's hope and pray that God's mighty plan brings a glorious victory of healing tor Ryan and Miles! In the meantime, may I please sneak a serving of your broccoli bake casserole? It looks too good to pass up! 🙂
Thanks so much Becca!!! I am seriously excited to surf these recipes. Everything looks so good! I am so happy I got to work with this awesome group of caring and talented bloggers.