Chicken Broccoli Noodle Casserole

I just made this a day ago and once again, DELISH!! I used the chicken broth generated by the water in which I cooked the chicken in the crock pot, instead of canned broth. It was really flavorful and I had no fat to skim, even after refrigerating the broth overnight before I assembled the casserole.

Ingredients:

•     6 oz Ronzoni Smart taste noodles (or no-yolk)
•     2 tsp oil
•     4 cloves garlic, sliced thin
•     12 oz fresh broccoli florets, chopped
•     1 tbsp butter
•     1 medium shallot, minced
•     3 tbsp all purpose flour
•     1-3/4 cups fat free chicken broth
•     1 cup 1% milk
•     12 oz cooked shredded chicken breast
•     4 oz shredded reduced fat sharp cheddar (Sargento)
•     cooking spray
•     3 tbsp shredded parmesan cheese
•     2 tbsp seasoned breadcrumbs (I used whole wheat)

Directions:

1. Cook noodles in salted water until al dente, or slightly undercooked by 2 minutes. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add garlic and cook on medium heat until golden, about 1 minute.
3. Add the broccoli and a little salt, sauté and cover the broccoli for about 3 minutes on medium heat until the broccoli begins to soften. Set aside.
4. Preheat the oven to 375°. Lightly spray a 9 x 12 casserole dish with cooking spray.
5. In a large pot, heat butter over medium-low heat, when melted add the shallot and cook until soft, 2-3 minutes.
6. Add the flour and a pinch of salt and stir well, cooking an additional 2-3 minutes on medium-low heat.
7. Slowly whisk in the chicken broth until well combined over medium heat; whisk well for 30 seconds, then add the milk and bring to a boil.
8. Simmer on medium heat, mixing occasionally until it thickens (about 6-7 minutes). Remove from heat and add reduced fat sharp cheddar and 1 tablespoon of the parmesan cheese; mix well until the cheese melts.
9. Add the shredded chicken, noodles and broccoli to the sauce and mix well until evenly coated.
10. Pour into a casserole dish and top with parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs. Spray a little more cooking spray on top and bake for about 20 - 25 minutes.
11. Place the casserole under the broiler a few minutes to get the crumbs crisp and golden (careful not to burn).

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