Craving a warm, satisfying meal that's surprisingly simple to create? This Creamy Bacon Chicken and Broccoli Bread Bake delivers comfort food flavors without the fuss.
Get ready to learn how to transform everyday ingredients into a show-stopping dish that will become a family favorite.
Ingredients
Alright, let's get cooking! For this creamy chicken and broccoli bake, I'm gonna walk you through all the ingredients you'll need.
First, you'll need 250g (8 oz) of chicken breast fillet, cut into bite-sized pieces—think chicken nuggets, but healthier! Then, grab 2 diced bacon rashers because, well, bacon makes everything better. Don't forget 1 small brown onion (or ½ a large one), diced and 4 packed cups of broccoli florets. Veggies are important, even in comfort food! Many people enjoy creamy pasta bakes that also incorporate chicken for a comforting meal.
For flavor, you'll want 1 minced garlic clove and ½ tbsp of olive oil. Now, for the creamy part—the béchamel sauce. You'll need 40g (3 tbsp) of butter, ½ cup of flour, ½ cup of grated cheese, and 3 cups of low-fat milk. Add 1 tsp of garlic powder, ½ tsp of salt, and a pinch of black pepper!
Finally, the topping: 3-4 slices of bread, cubed, ¼ cup of panko, 2 tbsp of grated parmesan, and fresh parsley to garnish.
Instructions
Let's get this show on the road! Preheat your oven to 180C/350F – that's where the magic happens.
For the chicken mixture, heat olive oil. Sauté diced onion, minced garlic, and bacon for 2-3 minutes 'til the onion gets see-through, and the bacon starts to brown. It's like a little spa day for your veggies!
Now, add the chicken and cook it just until it turns white on the outside – don't cook it all the way through. You want to ensure it's lightly cooked, similar to when making creamy pasta. Take it out and drain on paper towels. We don't want soggy chicken!
Next, I need you to place your broccoli into a baking dish. Top with the chicken-onion mix and half of that yummy béchamel sauce. Bread cubes go on top, then the rest of the sauce. Squish those bread cubes down to spread the sauciness!
Sprinkle panko and parmesan cheese! Bake for 20-25 minutes, until it's golden brown!
Recipe Notes
I've got some extra tips to guarantee our creamy bacon chicken and broccoli bread bake turns out perfectly–these recipe notes are lifesavers! You'll need enough bread to cover the top–bread slice quantity depends on your dish size!
Making the béchamel sauce in a deep pan speeds things up; otherwise, add 30 seconds to 1 minute to each step. The sauce consistency should be like pouring cream–not too thick! If it's too thick, add a splash of milk, easy peasy!
Use a 10 to 12-cup baking dish, around 9" x 9". This bake is freezer-friendly too! Assemble it, wrap it tight, then freeze it immediately.
Avoid assembling it ahead and refrigerating, or you'll have soggy bread—yuck! Similarly, don't make the béchamel sauce way ahead; it'll thicken too much! Trust me, I've been there!
Nutrition assumes five servings, but who's counting? Enjoy every bite!
Nutritional Information
I cannot wait to explore into the nutritional details of this creamy bacon chicken and broccoli bread bake! I know you're probably wondering what you're signing up for—besides deliciousness.
Let's break it down. Each serving (around 336g) packs about 429 calories. Not bad, right? You're also looking at 35g of carbohydrates—a decent amount, I'd say. And whoa— protein's high at 28.3g which is over half of your needs, yay—perfect for building muscles. The fat content is 19.2g, with 9.1g of saturated fat.
You'll find 611mg of sodium, 538mg of potassium, and 2.8g of fiber. The sugars are at 10.6g.
Check out vitamins A clocking in at 20% of your daily needs and vitamin C at almost your entire daily needs! Calcium is a solid 38%, and iron is 10%. So, enjoy every bite, it's more than just comfort food!
Short Recipe Version
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8
Ingredients:
- 1 loaf (1 pound) French bread
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 head broccoli, chopped
- 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cut a circle out of the top of the bread loaf and hollow out the inside, leaving a 1-inch border.
- In a large bowl, combine chicken, bacon, broccoli, cream of chicken soup, milk, cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Spoon mixture into the hollowed-out bread loaf.
- Wrap the bread loaf in foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Unwrap the bread and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until golden brown and heated through.
- Let cool slightly before slicing and serving.
Nutrition Information (per serving – Estimated):
* Calories: 429