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Doesn’t this just sound so cozy and delicious?
Today I am sharing an amazing recipe from my friend Ali’s cookbook. Some of you may already be familiar with Ali’s blog and book, both are aptly named Inspiralized, and honestly, this book is the best! So creative and filled to the brim with healthy yet satisfying recipes. Like if you are looking for new ways to use up all those end of summer veggies, this is your book! You will see veggies in a whole new light.
No joke.
You need this book in your life.
Growing up, one of my favorite dishes my dad would make us was a broccoli cheddar and rice dish. It was always so comforting, it’s still the best. So when I saw the recipe for chicken and broccoli skillet bake with not only cheddar, but havarti too, I was sold. Done and done.
Here’s the really cool thing about this recipe, not only does it use the broccoli florets, but it also uses the stems. I cannot tell you how many broccoli stems I have thrown out over the years. It turns out that the stems are actually really delicious! What Ali does is to spiralize the broccoli stems into pasta, yes, pasta!! I mean, how fun is that?!?
Aside from being fun, spiralizing the broccoli also breaks down the stems into a much smaller form making them far tastier and easy to chomp on. And when mixed with the broccoli florets, chicken and cheese? It’s the perfect light and healthy dinner for any time of the year.
Score!
If you’re looking to make the dish a little heartier, I highly recommend mixing in some quinoa or white or brown rice. There’s just something I LOVE so much about rice with broccoli and cheese.
Ali also recommends adding a sweet potato to the mix, which I also think would be so great! Totally trying that next time!
Adding a few hard boiled eggs at the end is something my dad would always do with his dish. Hard boiled, fried or poached would all work. Totally one of my favorite things to this day!
One of best parts about this recipe is how quick and easy it is to make. Just a handful of simple ingredients and a skillet. Perfect for busy weeknights and SO perfect for these cooler nights some of you might be starting to experience? Or maybe not… my point is that this is healthy comfort food at its best, so it’s perfect for one of those first cooler days of fall…can you feel my excitement that fall is almost here?
Major fall thoughts on the brain!
And speaking of fall, I’m pretty sure I met my new best favorite person ever on Tuesday. See, I was having this little video shoot (no big deal or anything, but… you guys might just be getting a barn video tour coming your way soon…) and I met the kindest women ever. I mean, everyone who came on Tuesday was incredibly kind and I fell in love with them all, but MC? MC shared my love of fall, Halloween and all the holidays (but Halloween the most…that’s MC’s all-time favorite holiday!). I’m quite positive I could talk with her for hours and hours and we would have the BEST time. She also just puts you in a happy mood… Love That!
Every single one of the women who came up for this shoot were so incredibly kind. I cannot wait to share a bit more about the day with you guys. And um, those final barn photos you all have been waiting so patiently for…definitely coming soon!
Ok, but back to this chicken and broccoli skillet bake.
Ali has kindly offered to give one reader a copy of her book and a brand new spiralizer! I know, isn’t she just the nicest? Here’s the deal, if you want a chance to win a copy of the book and a brand new spiralizer, simply leave a comment on today’s post answering this question:
What is one recipe you are dying to try that involves spiralized veggies?
And that’s it, then you will be entered! I will email the winner in a week! Until then, everyone should be making this recipe for dinner ASAP.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Mmm, k?? Cool! 🙂
My Dad too made something like his Broccoli Cheddar and Rice Dish. It’s similar to that except, it has lots of potatoes in it. Every time he makes it again, I fall in love with the smell and those beautiful memories. Oh, and I love the warm feeling your pictures give to the dish. It’s truly beautiful!
I love this bake, absolute dinner perfection! 🙂
This looks so delicious! Perfect for healthy comfort food and easy too. 🙂 I have been dying to try roasted beet and carrot noodles with goat cheese and candied pecans! I think it would be fantastic for fall coming up right around the corner. ?
I would love to try squash spiralizied!
This looks so delicious and perfect for fall. I would love to try Ali’s zucchini noodle Cobb salad for lunch, such a creative idea to swap “noodles” for lettuce!
Also — your photography is gorgeous, I always admire it on instagram! Thanks for sharing.
That looks tasty!
I would like to try a recipe with zoodles, since I love pasta.
I would love to make this recipe with sweet potatoes and a poached/fried egg on top. This would make an awesome fall dish!
I need to take the plunge and start inspiralizing! The first recipe I try would be a raw spiralized beet salad, add some late summer tomato, avocado, goat cheese and hazelnuts.
i’ve tried spiralized zucchini but i’d love to try broccoli or sweet potatoes!
I want to try butternut mac and cheese. I have the cheap little spiralizer, sure would like the grand one, and I am making believers every time I cook.
My husband’s favorite childhood meal is broccoli / rice casserole. I’m interested in trying your recipe as a healthier version. I would use a spiralizer for this, and I would also like to try to spiralize kohlrabi for my dad because he’s obsessed!
I’m dying to try apples in the spiralizer for some kind of apple cinnamon pastry!
Looks so good! Great for the crazy busy life I have as a young person in school.
I am dying to try spiralized carrots with a tomato cream sauce and fresh basil.
Thanks for all the good recipes Teighan!
I would love to try make this spiralized broccoli and chicken bake!
I don’t have a spiralizer yet but I’m going to try out this recipe tonight- the fun spiral veg, would love to win a spiralizer but if not, I’m getting one anyway! Thanks for the fabulous recipes, Traci