Go Back
+ servings
No-Boil Broccoli Pasta Bake served in a ceramic dish with melted cheese on top.
Print Recipe
No ratings yet

No-Boil Broccoli Pasta Bake

A creamy, flavorful pasta bake with broccoli and cheese, all cooked in one dish without boiling the pasta first.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Easy
Servings: 4 servings

Equipment

  • 13x9 inch baking dish
  • Aluminum Foil

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 7.5 oz whipped chive or garlic & herb cream cheese
  • 12 oz dry pasta (rotini, penne, cellentani, or fusilli)
  • 2-3 cups fresh broccoli florets, chopped into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (medium or sharp), divided
  • 1-2 teaspoons seasoning salt (or salt and pepper, to taste)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cups chicken broth (regular or low-sodium)
  • 2/3 cup heavy cream

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) so it’s nice and hot for baking.
  • In a 13×9-inch baking dish, place the whipped cream cheese right in the center—it’ll melt and blend beautifully as everything cooks.
  • Scatter the uncooked dry pasta evenly around the cream cheese. Add your chopped broccoli florets over the pasta for plenty of vibrant color and healthy crunch.
  • Sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar cheese over everything. This adds a gooey, cheesy layer.
  • Season the whole dish with 1–2 teaspoons of seasoning salt, or just use salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle olive oil evenly across the top.
  • Carefully pour the chicken broth over the entire dish, making sure the pasta is just submerged so it cooks evenly.
  • Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and place it in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes.
  • After 30 minutes, remove the foil, give the pasta a good stir, and re-cover with foil. Return it to the oven and bake for another 30 minutes so the pasta softens and soaks up that savory flavor.
  • Uncover the dish, stir in the remaining cheddar cheese, and pour in the heavy cream. Mix until the cheese fully melts into the sauce and everything looks rich and creamy.
  • Let the pasta bake rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This gives it time to thicken and makes serving a breeze.

Notes

This dish pairs beautifully with a crisp green salad or garlic bread. For extra nutrition, add a roasted vegetable medley.