Easy Chicken Broccoli Braid Recipe

Chicken, broccoli, and cheese are all ingredients that go well together, and when you wrap them all up in crescent dough, it becomes a dish that's truly impossible to resist. Recipe developer and private practice registered dietician Kristen Carli has done just that with her chicken broccoli braid recipe, which is incredibly simple to make and has lots of flavor. Whether you want to use up some leftover chicken, or you'd like to try out a new appetizer recipe, this chicken broccoli braid will quickly become a go-to in your household.

"This makes for a great appetizer for every party," Carli says of this dish, adding that she also thinks it's "fairly easy" to make, so you won't have to spend hours in the kitchen. This recipe only requires a few ingredients and less than an hour of time — it really doesn't get much easier than that! Plus, this recipe yields eight servings, striking a perfect balance between simplicity and efficiency. So, grab your leftover chicken, some broccoli, and some cheese, and whip up this chicken broccoli braid to impress at your next dinner party.

Before you can start constructing and cooking your chicken broccoli braid, you'll want to make sure that you have the right ingredients on hand. Fortunately, this recipe only calls for five simple ingredients, and some of them are likely already sitting in your fridge. For starters, you'll need some shredded chicken, a head of broccoli that's cut up into florets, and some shredded cheddar cheese. To make the braid part, you'll need two cans of crescent dough, as well as a beaten egg to wash over the dough to make it golden and crispy. Then, you're ready to begin!

Once you have your ingredients all set, you can begin preparing the chicken broccoli braid. First, preheat your oven to 375 F so it's ready to go once you have the braid assembled and ready for baking. Also, prep a large baking sheet by spraying it with nonstick cooking spray. Now, grab a large bowl, and add in the shredded chicken, broccoli florets, and shredded cheese, which will come together to form the braid's filling. Give these ingredients a thorough stir, and then set the bowl aside.

After you've finished mixing the filling, you can start to construct the braid itself. Grab your two cans of crescent dough, pop them open, and then place the two sheets beside each other on the baking sheet. Pour all of the chicken, broccoli, and cheese mixture down the middle of the dough, and then separate the two outer strips of dough and cross them over one another, forming a braid-like pattern. "The braid can be rather messy and challenging, but it does not need to be perfect," Carli reminds us. 

Finally, tuck the ends of the dough under, forming a uniform shape as seen in the image. Then, beat one egg, and brush the wash over the entirety of the dough.

Now that you've assembled the chicken broccoli braid, you're ready to bake it. Pop the dish in the oven, and allow it to bake for 18 minutes. You'll know it's ready when the crust is golden brown and the cheese is nice and melty. 

From there, you're ready to cut into the braid, serve, and enjoy! "I love this with pepperoni pizza and Caesar salad," Carli notes. Whether you want to enjoy this braid as a side dish or as an appetizer, there's no doubt that the cheesy goodness will please even the pickiest of eaters!