Description
Chicken and Broccoli Pasta is a comforting and satisfying dish made with tender chicken, vibrant broccoli, and pasta tossed in a creamy, flavorful sauce. It’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner that’s both wholesome and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces penne or fettuccine pasta
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Add broccoli florets to the boiling pasta during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then cook until golden and fully cooked, about 5–6 minutes. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Add the cooked chicken, pasta, and broccoli back into the pan. Toss to combine and heat through.
- Season with additional salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired. Finish with a splash of lemon juice for brightness.
- Serve warm with extra Parmesan on top if desired.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half or milk instead of heavy cream.
- You can steam the broccoli separately if preferred.
- Great with whole wheat or gluten-free pasta options.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: chicken broccoli pasta, creamy pasta, easy dinner recipe, weeknight pasta, chicken Alfredo with broccoli