Chicken and Broccoli Pasta
Some recipes just feel like home on a cold Canadian night, and this is one of them. Creamy, hearty, and quick to throw together, it was the kind of weeknight favourite that warmed the kitchen while snow fell outside. With tender chicken, bright broccoli, and that nostalgic creaminess from mushroom soup and sour cream, this dish carried many families through long winters — comfort food that proves simple can be deeply satisfying.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4–6
Ingredients
300 g (10 oz) pasta (penne, fusilli, or bowtie)
2 cups broccoli florets
2 tbsp olive oil or butter
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or cubed
1 can (400 g / 10–12 oz) condensed mushroom soup
½ cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
2 tbsp dry sherry
Salt & black pepper, to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
Method
Cook pasta & broccoli: Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, adding broccoli florets for the last 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Make the sauce: Heat olive oil or butter in a pan. Sauté onion until soft, add garlic, and cook 1 minute more. Stir in chicken, mushroom soup, sour cream, and sherry. Simmer 5 minutes until warmed through and slightly thickened.
Combine & serve: Toss pasta and broccoli in the sauce until well coated. Season with salt and pepper, then serve hot with Parmesan if desired.
Variations
Vegetarian option: Swap chicken for roasted mushrooms or chickpeas.
Cheesy bake: Top with extra cheddar or mozzarella and broil until bubbling.
Prairie style: Add frozen peas or corn for a heartier, pantry-friendly twist.
Condensed soup casseroles and one-pot meals became a Canadian household staple in the 1950s and 60s, when Campbell’s heavily marketed recipes that promised “a meal in minutes.” By the 1970s, creamy mushroom-based dishes — from chicken bakes to tuna casseroles — were on nearly every weeknight table. This chicken-and-broccoli pasta is part of that story: practical, comforting, and shaped by the era when convenience met Canadian family cooking.