Description
A creamy and satisfying pasta dish made with juicy chicken, tender broccoli, and a rich Parmesan sauce – perfect for any night.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 8 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rotini)
- 2 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package. In the last 2–3 minutes, add broccoli. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 6–8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté garlic for 30 seconds. Add cream, bring to a simmer. Stir in Parmesan, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest if using. Simmer until slightly thickened.
- Return chicken, pasta, and broccoli to the pan. Toss everything in the sauce over low heat until warmed through and well-coated.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for quicker prep.
- Swap cream for Greek yogurt and milk for a lighter sauce.
- Make it spicy with extra red pepper flakes or hot sauce.
- Add mushrooms or spinach for more veggies.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: chicken and broccoli pasta, creamy pasta dinner, easy chicken pasta, one pot chicken broccoli pasta