Cheesy Baked Penne with Chicken and Broccoli

Preheat your oven to 350 F.

Start by blanching your broccoli. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and prepare a bowl of ice water. (You’re going to use the ice water to shock the broccoli and stop the cooking process). When the water is boiling, add the broccoli florets and cook for one minute until bright green. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the broccoli to the bowl of ice water.

Return the water in the pot to a boil and add the penne. (Yes, you’re using the same water for the broccoli and penne. Conservation and convenience! Whoop.) Cook according to package instructions for al dente (usually 7-8 minutes) then strain it and return the cooked pasta to the pot. Please don’t overcook the pasta, people, or it won’t hold its shape after you bake it. Set the pot of pasta aside.

Moving on to the cheese sauce! Melt the butter (or heat the oil) in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When melted, add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Whisk the flour into the butter and garlic to form a roux. Cook, stirring constantly for 1½ minutes. Slowly whisk in the chicken stock, milk, oregano and crushed red pepper (if using). Bring the sauce to a simmer, whisking regularly, until thickened. This should take about 5 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and add 1 cup grated Fontina, all of the mozzarella, and half of the Parmesan. Stir until the cheese has fully melted. Taste your sauce and season generously with salt and pepper.

Add the broccoli and shredded chicken breast to the pot with the penne. Pour the cheese sauce on top and stir to combine, making sure everything is well coated in sauce. Pour the mixture into a medium baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup Fontina, ¼ cup Parmesan, and ¼ cup whole wheat panko. Transfer the pasta to the oven and bake for 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Serve warm and experience childlike joy.