Cheesy Broccoli Chicken

Why oh why did a choose a stovetop meal when both my kids are sick and want to be held? It was a pain in the butt to cook while wearing one kid and telling another that he can't have a snack because its sooooo close to dinner (shocker: he didn't eat dinner anyway). It was worth it, but it would have been even more worth it if I had made it during naptime and just....nuked it for dinner.

P.S. Wade has croup and it is the strangest. His voicebox is inflamed so his breathing is raspy and loud, his voice is deep, and when he coughs it sounds like a seal looking for a snack. youtube it! At night it gets worse. It's like he tried to turn into a merman, got close, but at the end of the day just managed a seal.

The above picture is Steven's plate. My rice days are over.

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken

Adapted from Gimme Some Oven

• olive oil about 2 tablespoons, divided
• 3 medium chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces or 1.5 pounds if you want to adapt with other chicken parts*
• 2 heads of broccoli, cut in bite sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup milk, warmed (I microwaved it for a bit)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
• rice, cook it with the leftover chicken broth**

Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet (I used a wok like thing) over medium high heat. Add chicken bites and season with salt and pepper. Cook until done about 8 minutes, stirring and flipping occasionally. Remove to a large bowl.

In the same large skillet heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and toss in the broccoli and season with salt and pepper. Cook until tender for about 6 minutes, if you like it crunchier cook it less. Remove to the same large bowl as the chicken.

In the same large skillet...melt the butter and add the garlic. Cook until fragrant. Add the flour and whisk your heart out, it will look very dry.  Slowly (super slowly) whisk in the chicken broth and milk. Pour a little, whisk until combined, then pour a little more. It should be smooth, no clumps. Season with salt and pepper and bring to simmer.  Once it has thickened up add the cheddar cheese and whisk until everything is smooth. Remove from heat and add in the cooked chicken and broccoli. Mix until evenly coated and serve with rice.

*tip: I buy frozen chicken breasts from costco and they are the easiest to cut when they are 50% done thawing. I hate sawing at raw meat but if its partially frozen a sharp knife will cut right through. 

**tip: I freeze my chicken broth in 2 cups containers so I made my rice (1 cup dry rice) with the left over chicken broth (1 1/2 cup + 1/2 cup water)  brings the flavors through the whole dish....not that I get to eat rice...

Leftover/freezability: I think the leftovers are going to be fantastic. Even better if you get to mix rice in.  Maybe not so much for the freezer, I think the cheese sauce would get weird.