Get ready for a cheesy, chickeny, broccoli-filled masterpiece that will make your taste buds do the happy dance!

Imagine a world where creamy cheese sauce, tender chicken, and crunchy broccoli come together in perfect harmony. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, wake up and smell the bacon, because this Cheesy Chicken Casserole with Broccoli and Bacon is about to become your new favorite dish!

First, preheat your oven to 350 F degrees. While that’s heating up, cook 7 slices of chopped bacon in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat until it’s nice and crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet, but leave the grease behind – we’ll get to that in a minute!

Next, add 1 medium diced yellow onion to the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes, until it’s soft and translucent. Then, add 3 cloves of minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Remove the onion and garlic from the skillet and set them aside with the bacon.

Now it’s time to add 1 1/2 cups of fresh broccoli florets to the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the broccoli is bright green and heated through. Remove it from the skillet and set it aside with the onion and garlic.

In the same skillet, add 1/3 cup of butter and let it melt. Then, add 1/3 cup of all-purpose flour and whisk it together with the butter to make a roux. Slowly pour in 2 cups of whole milk and 1 1/4 cups of half and half or heavy cream, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes, until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.

Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in 1 3/4 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Then, add 16 oz of cooked pasta shells, 2 1/2 cups of shredded chicken, the cooked bacon, onion, garlic, and broccoli to the skillet. Stir until everything is well combined and the cheese sauce is coating all the ingredients.

Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Then, broil on high for 1-2 minutes to get a golden brown top. Remove the skillet from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

This Cheesy Chicken Casserole with Broccoli and Bacon is a game-changer for weeknight dinners. It’s easy to make, feeds a crowd, and is sure to become a family favorite. So go ahead, get cooking, and enjoy the ooey-gooey cheesy goodness!