This creamy chicken broccoli bake is comfort food you can make on a weeknight: tender chunks of chicken and bright broccoli in a rich garlic cream sauce, finished with a thick layer of mozzarella that bakes into a bubbly, golden crust. It cooks in a small baking dish right in your air fryer, and a cool, crunchy cucumber dill salad on the side keeps the whole meal fresh and balanced.

The recipe comes from a short video on the Airfryworld Facebook page. It is naturally low in carbs and packed with protein, without feeling like diet food.

Air Fryer Creamy Chicken Broccoli Bake

Recipe by JuliaCourse: Main, DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

3

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

25

minutes

Calories

665

kcal

Protein

42

g

Carbohydrates

13

g

Fat

50

g

Fiber

2

g

Total time

40

minutes

Tender chicken and broccoli in a rich garlic cream sauce under a bubbly golden mozzarella crust, baked in a small dish in the air fryer and served with a fresh cucumber dill salad. A low-carb, high-protein comfort dinner.

Ingredients

• For the chicken broccoli bake

• 300 g (10.5 oz) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks

• 2 cups fresh broccoli florets

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• For the cucumber salad

• 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced

• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

• Season the chicken
  Toss the chicken chunks with the olive oil, half of the garlic powder, salt and pepper.
• Give the chicken a head start
  Air fry the chicken at 380°F (190°C) for 8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway.
• Assemble the bake
  Place the chicken and broccoli florets in a baking dish that fits in your air fryer. Stir the remaining garlic powder into the cream and pour it over the chicken and broccoli. Top evenly with the mozzarella.
• Bake
  Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 12 to 15 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is golden. The chicken should reach 165°F (74°C).
• Make the cucumber salad
  While the bake is in the air fryer, mix the cucumber, red onion and dill with the yogurt, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
• Rest and serve
  Let the bake rest for 5 minutes so the sauce thickens, then serve with the cold cucumber salad.

Notes

• Use a 7- to 8-inch baking dish that leaves a little space around the edges in the basket.
• Heavy cream works best. Milk or light cream can split during baking.
• Cut the broccoli into small florets so it becomes tender in the same time as the chicken.
• Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make the cucumber salad fresh.

Julia’s Tip: Let the bake rest for 5 minutes before serving. The cream sauce thickens as it cools slightly, and the cheese crust stays on top instead of sliding off.

Can You Make a Casserole in the Air Fryer?

Yes, and it is perfect for smaller households. Any oven-safe dish that fits in your basket with a little space around it works: a 7- to 8-inch oval or square baking dish for most 5 to 6 quart air fryers, or a 6-inch dish for smaller models. Because the air fryer heats up quickly and the hot air circulates close to the cheese, the topping turns golden faster than in a large oven, and a chicken broccoli bake for two or three people is ready in about 25 minutes.

Why the Chicken Gets a Head Start

Raw chicken releases liquid as it cooks, which thins out the cream sauce. Air frying the seasoned chunks for 8 minutes first solves this: the chicken browns a little, gains flavor and is almost cooked through before it goes into the dish. In the final bake it only needs to finish cooking while the sauce bubbles and the cheese melts, so it stays juicy.

How to Keep the Cream Sauce Creamy

• Use heavy cream. Its high fat content keeps the sauce smooth, while milk can curdle in the heat.
• Bake at a moderate 350°F (175°C), not at the highest setting.
• Pat the broccoli dry if you washed it, so no extra water ends up in the dish.
• For an even thicker sauce, stir 2 tablespoons of cream cheese into the cream before pouring it over.

Fresh or Frozen Broccoli?

Fresh broccoli gives the best texture and stays bright green. Frozen broccoli works too, but thaw it first and squeeze out the excess water in a kitchen towel. Otherwise it releases liquid during baking and the chicken broccoli bake becomes watery.

The Cucumber Dill Salad

The cold, crunchy cucumber salad is not just a side dish, it balances the rich, cheesy bake. Thinly sliced cucumber and red onion are tossed with Greek yogurt, fresh dill and a squeeze of lemon. For the crunchiest salad, salt the cucumber slices for 10 minutes, pat them dry and add the dressing just before serving.

Low Carb and High Protein

With chicken, cheese and Greek yogurt, one serving of this meal has around 42 grams of protein and only about 13 grams of carbohydrates. It fits well into low-carb and keto-style eating. If you want a lighter version, use half the amount of cream and add a few spoonfuls of cream cheese, or serve smaller portions with extra salad.

Make Ahead and Storage

You can assemble the chicken broccoli bake up to a day ahead: pre-cook the chicken, layer everything in the dish without the cheese, cover and refrigerate. Sprinkle on the mozzarella just before baking and add 3 to 4 minutes to the cooking time. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat well in the air fryer at 320°F (160°C) for 6 to 8 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use leftover or rotisserie chicken?

Yes. Skip the first air frying step and simply mix the cooked chicken with the broccoli and cream. Reduce the baking time to about 10 minutes.

Can I add pasta or rice?

Yes. Stir in 1 cup of cooked pasta or rice before adding the cream for a heartier, family-style casserole. Add a splash more cream so it does not dry out.

Which cheese works best?

Mozzarella melts beautifully and browns well. For more flavor, mix it with grated Parmesan or sharp cheddar.

Can I make it in the oven?

Yes. Bake it in a larger dish at 375°F (190°C) for 25 to 30 minutes, until bubbly and golden.

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