How to Make Chicken and Broccoli Pasta
Chicken and Broccoli Pasta is a comforting, flavorful dish that combines tender chicken, vibrant broccoli, and pasta in a delicious sauce. It’s a quick and nutritious meal, perfect for weeknights or even meal prepping for the week ahead. The rich sauce—often made with garlic, cream, and Parmesan—adds a creamy, savory base that complements the freshness of the broccoli and the protein-packed chicken. This dish is hearty, satisfying, and can be easily customized to suit different tastes.
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne and cook until al dente. During the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli florets to the pasta water. Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and broccoli.
- Meanwhile, season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring the sauce to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and cook until slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir the Parmesan cheese into the cream sauce until melted. Season with red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Add the cooked penne, broccoli, and chicken to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together until well coated, adding some reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to reach your desired sauce consistency. Drizzle with lemon juice and toss again.
- Serve the chicken and broccoli pasta hot, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use high-quality Parmesan cheese and grate it fresh for the best flavor.
- Don't overcook the chicken. It should be just cooked through and still juicy.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining. You can add a splash to loosen the sauce if needed.
- For extra lemon flavor, add some lemon zest to the sauce along with the lemon juice.