Chicken & Broccoli Pasta Bake

Ingredients:

• 1 box of pasta (I used rotini, but you can use anything you have besides spaghetti/linguine shaped pasta)

• 1 lb of chicken breast; cut into 1 inch chunks

• 2 heads of broccoli; cut into florets

• 1 small white or yellow onion; diced

• 4-5 cloves of garlic, minced

• 4 tbsp of butter

• 1/4 cup of white wine

• 2 tbsp of sour cream

• 1 1/2 cup of shredded cheese ( I like a combo of cheddar and mozzarella)

• 1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan

• 1 cup of tiny mozzarella balls (you can also use more shredded mozzarella or cut up larger pieces)

• 1 tbsp of olive oil

• 1 tbsp of paprika

• 1 tsp of garlic powder

• Salt & pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 375F and grease a Pyrex casserole pan.

Start by bringing a large pot of water to boil. When your water is boiling, add your pasta and cook about 1-2 minutes less than instructed, you want your pasta to be al dente so that it continues cooking when you bake it. Add your broccoli to the cooking pasta during the last 3 minutes.

Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water, drain the pasta and broccoli and put back into the pot.

While the pasta is cooking, heat your pan on medium and add your olive oil, put your chicken in a bowl and sprinkle the paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper over it. Mix so that all of the chicken is completely coated. Heat your olive oil on a pan. Add your spiced chicken and onions to a pan and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, (depending on how big your chicken pieces are) or until fully cooked. Remove from the heat and add to the pot with the pasta and broccoli.

De-glaze the pan with your white wine. Add your butter, to the pan and let it melt. Pour the wine and butter mixture over the pasta and broccoli. Sprinkle in the majority of the shredded cheese (reserve some for the top) and mix.

Pour the pasta/broccoli/chicken/cheese combo into the casserole pan. Add in your mozzarella and mix again, in the pan. Top with the Parmesan cheese and your reserved shredded cheese.

Bake for about 20- 30 minutes, or until the mozzarella balls are melted and bubbly.