Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Dinner
A straightforward recipe for a rich, creamy pasta dish featuring tender chicken and bright broccoli florets, perfect for a weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 head broccoli, cut into small florets
- 12 ounces penne pasta
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
- Add the chopped onion to the pot and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Add the dry pasta, chicken broth, and Italian seasoning to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Stir in the broccoli florets. Continue to simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente and the broccoli is tender-crisp.
- Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and coats the pasta.
- Return the cooked chicken to the pot. Stir everything together until heated through. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed before serving.
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, let the mixture simmer uncovered for an extra 2-3 minutes before adding the cream.
- You can substitute heavy cream with half-and-half for a slightly lighter sauce, though the texture will be less rich.
- Use rotisserie chicken if you want to reduce the prep time further.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Unsaturated Fat: 14
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 42
- Cholesterol: 140