Chicken and broccoli bake with a cheese crust

Chicken and broccoli bake with a cheese crust: a creamy oven classic with chicken breast, broccoli, cream and mozzarella. Savoury, with plenty of protein and quick to make.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 15 min
• Cooking time: 25 min
• Total time: 40 min
• Calories: 510 kcal per serving
• Protein: 55 g
• Fat: 26 g
• Carbs: 12 g

Ingredients

• 300 g chicken breast fillet
• 400 g broccoli
• 150 ml cream
• 50 ml homemade vegetable stock (no yeast extract)
• 100 g mozzarella
• 1 onion
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 pinch of nutmeg

Method

You’ll need: oven · frying pan · baking dish · chopping board · knife · sieve

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C (180 °C fan). Break the broccoli into small florets, peel the stalk and chop it small. Dice the onion and cut the chicken breast fillet into bite-sized pieces.
2. Blanch the broccoli briefly in lightly salted water until tender-crisp. Drain and refresh it in cold water.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan and quickly fry the chicken and onion over a high heat. Season with salt and pepper so the meat takes on colour but stays juicy in the oven.
4. Spread the broccoli and chicken in a baking dish. Mix the cream, vegetable stock, nutmeg, salt and pepper and pour the mixture over the top.
5. Scatter the mozzarella over the top and bake at 200 °C for 15–20 min until the top is golden brown and the sauce is gently bubbling.
6. Serve the chicken and broccoli bake straight from the oven. A green salad goes well with it, or simply a little freshly ground pepper on top.

Good to know

A bake like this is no fuss and still arrives at the table feeling really cosy. Creamy inside, golden brown on top, and the broccoli stays pleasantly crunchy.

Swaps

Mozzarella → Alpine cheese (such as Gruyère) (more protein and calcium per serving). Cream → crème fraîche (a little more acidity and often a little less runny). Chicken breast → turkey breast (similar protein content and lean). Broccoli → cauliflower (mild, also with fibre).

Cooking tips

Shop-bought stock often contains yeast extract. For low-histamine cooking, make your own.

Allergens

Contains milk from the cream and mozzarella. Usually suits children when moderately seasoned, and fine in pregnancy as long as the chicken is cooked through completely and you use pasteurised dairy.