Healthy Sheet Pan Baked Chicken Broccoli
Chicken breast, broccoli and smoked paprika share one pan here, and the high oven heat keeps the florets from turning soft. Cleanup is one sheet.
smoked paprika sheet pan
14 Easy Chicken and Broccoli Recipes
Curated by Sally ThompsonUpdated November 4, 2026
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Chicken and broccoli is the kind of dinner that works on a Tuesday night and at a family table on a Sunday alike. The florets soak up sauce, the chicken takes on whatever seasoning it's given, and the whole pan can be on the table in under an hour.
If you're planning the week and want options you can make without digging through old cookbooks, this collection covers the range.
The fourteen recipes here run from sheet-pan dinners and cheesy bakes to stir-fries, a creamy soup and a cold pasta salad. Some are ready in about twenty minutes, while others need the oven for an hour or more, so check the time on each card before you start.
Broccoli is the detail most people get wrong. Cook it too long and it turns dull and soft. Many of these recipes add it late or give it a hot sear. Bright green means it's done. Pull it off the heat then.
What Are Chicken and Broccoli Recipes?
Chicken and broccoli recipes pair chicken with broccoli in a sauce, glaze or bake. The combination shows up across cuisines, from takeout-style stir-fries to Italian-American baked pasta.
What ties these dishes together is timing. Chicken needs enough heat to cook through, while broccoli only needs to turn tender before it loses its color. If the florets sit in the pan too long, they go gray and soft, so most recipes sear or roast the chicken first and add the broccoli near the end.
This collection covers baked, stir-fried, steamed, grilled, stuffed and soup versions, plus one cold salad.
How to Choose the Right Chicken and Broccoli Recipe
For a weeknight with little time, the stir-fries and the ground chicken skillet are the fastest pick. Most of them finish in around 40 minutes or less in a single pan, and the sauce reduces while the chicken cooks.
When you're cooking for a crowd or want leftovers, the bakes do the job. The chicken casserole, the stuffed breast and the penne bake all hold their heat well on a buffet table. Plan an extra hour for the oven.
If you want something less rich, go for the steamed or grilled chicken with broccoli. The cold pasta salad is another light choice for warm days.
Baked Chicken Recipes with Broccoli
These three all finish in the oven. Stovetop work stays minimal. The sheet-pan version roasts chicken and florets together at high heat, while the rice casserole bakes the rice right alongside the chicken and broccoli. The stuffed breast sits between them, with cheese tucked inside the meat before it goes in the oven.
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Best Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast
Broccoli and cheese are tucked inside the breast before baking, so the filling stays put. It suits a dinner-party main more than a casual weeknight.
cheese-stuffed breast -
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole: Creamy and Scratch-Made
Rice bakes right alongside the chicken and broccoli, so the whole meal comes out of one dish. This version skips canned soup in favor of a homemade sauce.
no canned soup
Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Recipes
Pasta is the richest route through this collection. The two baked alfredo recipes and the stuffed shells use a cream sauce, while the chilled salad uses a yogurt-based dressing. Keep the salad cold until serving, because creamy dressings don't stay safe at room temperature for long.
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The Ultimate Comfort Bake Creamy Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Stuffed Shells
Stuffed shells carry the chicken, broccoli and alfredo sauce in one pasta, so there's no separate side to plan. Baked under cheese, they're a good pick for a family table.
stuffed pasta shells -
High-Protein Baked Broccoli Chicken Alfredo
Penne is cooked slightly under-done so it soaks up the alfredo sauce in the oven without going soft. Chicken and broccoli are folded through before the bake.
baked penne alfredo -
Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta Salad with Greek Yogurt
Served cold with a Greek yogurt dressing, this pasta salad suits a potluck for eight, and it needs chilling time before serving.
Greek yogurt dressing
Stir-Fried Chicken and Broccoli Recipes
Four recipes here cook in a hot pan rather than the oven, and that changes the texture. Velveting, a cornstarch coat applied before cooking, keeps the chicken moist at high heat. Ground chicken cooks fastest of all, while the sesame version leans on a sticky glaze.
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Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry: Authentic Takeaway Taste
Velveting coats the chicken in a cornstarch mix before it hits the pan. That layer keeps the strips tender at high heat. Stop cooking once the sauce turns glossy.
velveting method -
Chicken and Chinese Broccoli Stir Fry
Chinese broccoli, also called gai lan, has thicker stems than the usual kind, so it needs a little more cooking time. The stir-fry pairs it with chicken in a savory sauce.
Chinese broccoli -
Sticky Sesame Chicken and Broccoli
Sticky honey-sesame glaze clings to the chicken and broccoli, and the cornstarch coat helps it cling. This one leans sweet, so pick it for a family that likes glazed dinners.
sesame glaze -
Ground Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry
Ground chicken gets a high-heat sear so it browns rather than steams, then the broccoli goes in to stay crisp.
high-heat sear
Steamed and Grilled Chicken and Broccoli
These two are less rich than the bakes, with the grill or steamer doing most of the work. Steaming takes about 25 minutes and keeps the greens crisp-tender. The grilled version adds char from the grates and a garlic sauce served alongside.
If the grill is out of reach, the steamed version works well in a regular steamer basket.
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Steamed Chicken Broccoli with Cornstarch Coating
Steaming keeps the chicken moist and the greens crisp-tender, and the cornstarch coating helps the meat hold its texture. A light option for a weeknight.
steamed method -
Char-Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Bowls with Garlic Sauce
Charred florets and a garlic sauce with an acidic marinade make this the grill-night option. Plan extra time for the marinade and the grill.
grilled, garlic sauce
Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Soup and Potatoes
A roux thickens the soup and keeps the base from separating, which matters once cheese goes in. The loaded potato uses a similar roux-based cheese sauce over a split russet. Both are thick, spoon-style meals for cold evenings.
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Creamy Chicken Broccoli Cheese Soup
A roux keeps this cheesy soup from breaking, so it stays smooth from the first spoonful to the last. It's the one to make when you want a warming lunch.
roux-thickened soup -
Chicken Broccoli Baked Potato with Cheese Sauce
Piled over a split russet, the chicken and broccoli sit under a roux-based cheese sauce. Each potato is a full meal on one plate.
loaded baked potato
Storage and Food Safety Tips for Chicken and Broccoli
Cook chicken until it reaches 165°F (74°C), the USDA's internal temperature for poultry. Use a thermometer in the thickest part, since color alone isn't a reliable sign. Ground chicken should reach the same figure.
Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking, the USDA's guideline for perishable food left at room temperature. In most cases, cooked chicken dishes keep in the fridge for three to four days.
The cold pasta salad needs chilling from the start and shouldn't sit out for long at a picnic. Reheat baked and stir-fried leftovers until the middle is steaming, not just warm at the edges.
Quick Comparison
| # | Recipes | Best For | Time | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Healthy Sheet Pan Baked Chicken Broccoli | sheet-pan dinner with simple cleanup | 40 min | sheet-pan roast |
| 2 | Best Broccoli Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast | dinner with a stuffed chicken main | 1 hr | baked, stuffed |
| 3 | Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole: Creamy and Scratch-Made | one-dish family dinner without canned soup | 50 min | baked casserole |
| 4 | The Ultimate Comfort Bake Creamy Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Stuffed Shells | family pasta night with a cheesy bake | 1 hr 5 min | baked stuffed pasta |
| 5 | High-Protein Baked Broccoli Chicken Alfredo | baked pasta for a crowd | 35 min | baked pasta |
| 6 | Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta Salad with Greek Yogurt | potluck or cold lunch for eight | 1 hr 30 min | chilled pasta salad |
| 7 | Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry: Authentic Takeaway Taste | weeknight stir-fry with velveted chicken | 40 min | stir-fried |
| 8 | Chicken and Chinese Broccoli Stir Fry | dinner with Chinese broccoli | 35 min | stir-fried |
| 9 | Sticky Sesame Chicken and Broccoli | sweet glazed dinner for a family | 30 min | stir-fried, glazed |
| 10 | Ground Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry | fast dinner with ground chicken | 20 min | stir-fried |
| 11 | Steamed Chicken Broccoli with Cornstarch Coating | lighter dinner with steamed greens | 25 min | steamed |
| 12 | Char-Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Bowls with Garlic Sauce | grill night with a garlic sauce | 55 min | grilled |
| 13 | Creamy Chicken Broccoli Cheese Soup | warming lunch or cold-weather dinner | 35 min | soup |
| 14 | Chicken Broccoli Baked Potato with Cheese Sauce | loaded dinner for potato lovers | 1 hr 15 min | baked potato |
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I serve with chicken and broccoli?
Steamed rice, egg noodles or a baked potato all soak up the sauce. For stir-fries, a simple cucumber salad adds a cool contrast with very little extra work.
Can I make chicken and broccoli in a slow cooker?
None of the recipes on this page are written for a slow cooker, but the saucy versions generally adapt well. Cook the chicken and sauce on low, then add the florets during the last 30 minutes on high so they stay green and firm.
How do I keep broccoli from going mushy?
Cut the florets to a similar size and add them late in the cooking time, or blanch them briefly before combining. Pulling them off the heat once they turn bright green is a good habit.
Which cut of chicken works best?
Breast cooks quickly and suits stir-fries and sheet-pan bakes. Thighs stay moister through longer oven or slow cooker times, and ground chicken browns fast in a hot pan.
How long can leftover chicken and broccoli be kept?
Refrigerate leftovers within two hours of cooking and eat them within three to four days in most cases. Reheat until steaming throughout.
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