Description
Creamy chicken and broccoli pasta delivers a comforting meal perfect for weeknight dinners. Home cooks can enjoy this simple, satisfying dish that combines tender chicken, fresh broccoli, and a rich parmesan sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, bowtie, or your choice)
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 2 tbsps olive oil or butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for a lighter option)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, ensuring a flavorful foundation for cooking pasta to perfectly al dente consistency.
- Vegetable and Pasta Synchronization: Drop pasta into boiling water, then add broccoli florets 2-3 minutes before pasta completion, allowing both to cook simultaneously and absorb the seasoned water.
- Draining and Staging: Strain pasta and broccoli in a colander, shaking off excess water, then transfer to a spacious mixing bowl, creating a blank canvas for the upcoming flavor infusion.
- Protein Integration: Sauté chicken pieces in a skillet with olive oil, seasoning with salt, pepper, and garlic powder until golden brown and cooked through, ensuring juicy and tender meat.
- Sauce Creation: In the same skillet, craft a creamy sauce by combining heavy cream, grated parmesan, and a splash of pasta water, whisking until smooth and luxuriously rich.
- Final Composition: Gently fold the golden chicken and velvety sauce into the pasta and broccoli mixture, coating every element with the decadent cream sauce, creating a harmonious and comforting dish.
Notes
- Pasta Precision: Cook pasta just until al dente to maintain a firm, satisfying texture that prevents mushiness and absorbs sauce perfectly.
- Broccoli Blanching Technique: Add broccoli during the final 2-3 minutes of pasta cooking to preserve its bright green color, crisp texture, and nutritional value.
- Salt Water Strategy: Use generously salted water to enhance the overall flavor profile of both pasta and broccoli, creating a more depth in the final dish.
- Timing Mastery: Drain pasta and broccoli immediately to stop the cooking process, preventing overcooking and maintaining ideal consistency for a restaurant-quality result.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 672
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg