21 Day Fix Cheesy Chicken & Broccolli Casserole

Cold weather = Casserole weather! My hubby grew up eating a delicious chicken casserole that his mother is famous for! It's a combo of stuffing, chicken, cheese, 'cream of' soups and broccoli. I have been lucky enough to experience it a few times, and it is definitely comfort food at it's finest!! The only problem... All those carbs and fats don't really fit into our healthier lifestyle!

I was determined to come up with a recipe that would be just as comforting as the original, but much healthier for our bodies. It also needed to fit on the 21 Day Fix eating plan, since that is what I am currently following. No biggie, right?

This concoction is creamy and delicious, with just a little kick AND it comes in at under 350 calories per serving!

What you need:

• 2 Large chicken breasts (If you are following the 21 Day Fix plan, you need 3 1/3 cup of chopped chicken)
• About 2 1/4 cups uncooked whole grain penne (We're aiming for 3 cups of cooked pasta)
• 3 cups cubed butternut squash (I buy frozen!)
• 2 cups fresh broccoli, chopped
• 1 cup onion, chopped
• 2/3 cup Plain, Non-fat Greek Yogurt
• ~2Tablespoons Hot Sauce (Adjust the heat to your taste)

What you do:

Before you begin:
-Bake or grill your chicken until done. I cook a package of chicken breasts at a time, so that I always have it on hand!

1) Pre-heat oven to 350. In a medium sauce pan, boil water. Add pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes.  Pasta should be al dente, you don't want to overcook it in this step! This is a great time to chop your chicken, broccoli and onion! Drain the pasta and set aside.

2)  Add the cubed butternut squash to a medium saucepan and cover with water. Boil for 13-15 minutes or until very soft. Drain the squash and toss it into your food processor

*I despise doing dishes, so I use the same pan for both steps, just doing one right after another-- those who are less lazy can certainly use 2 separate pans and boil them at the same time*

3) Pulse the butternut squash a few times in the food processor to break it down. Add the Greek yogurt and hot sauce and blend.  It should be smooth and creamy at this point!

4) Measure out 3 cups of the cooked pasta and place in a large mixing bowl. Add broccoli, onion, chicken, and 1/2 of your shredded cheese. Pour in your squash 'sauce' and stir it all together.  Carefully pour the mixture into a 13 by 9 inch pan. Cover with the rest of the cheese. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and starting to brown.

Divide pan in to 6 equal servings. Enjoy!!!!

21 Day Fix Conversions for 1/6 of casserole:

1 Red container
1 Green Container
1 Yellow Container
1/2 Blue Container


Nutrition Info:

Each serving contains:

343 Calories
41 grams carbs
7 grams  fat
30 grams protein