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Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

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This creamy chicken and broccoli pasta is a comforting weeknight dish featuring tender chicken, crisp-tender broccoli, and a silky Parmesan cream sauce tossed with rigatoni or penne.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 550

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Broccoli
  • 8 oz rigatoni or penne pasta Rigatoni holds sauce well
  • 2 cups broccoli florets Fresh is best; frozen can work
Chicken
  • 1 lb boneless chicken breast, diced into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
Cream Sauce
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream Or low-fat cream for a lighter version
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Plus more for serving
  • Salt & pepper to taste
Garnish
  • Parsley, chopped For garnish

Method
 

Pasta Cooking
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions minus 1–2 minutes for al dente. In the last 3 minutes of pasta cooking, add the broccoli florets to the same pot so they steam and cook quickly. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
Chicken Preparation
  1. While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season diced chicken with salt and pepper. Add to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and no longer pink, about 6–8 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate.
Sauce Making
  1. Reduce heat to medium. Add 2 tbsp of butter to the skillet. Once melted, stir in minced garlic and cook for 30–45 seconds until fragrant.
  2. Pour in 1 cup of heavy cream and 1/2 cup of chicken broth, stirring to combine. Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes to thicken slightly.
  3. Stir in 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan until melted and smooth. If the sauce looks too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Combining Ingredients
  1. Return the chicken to the skillet, then add the drained pasta and broccoli. Toss everything together until evenly coated in sauce and heated through, 1–2 minutes. If you want a silkier texture, add more reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time.
  2. Serve immediately, garnished with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 550kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 30gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gSodium: 750mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2g

Notes

Serve this pasta warm in shallow bowls with a crisp green salad and garlic bread for a complete meal. Cool leftovers before storing in an airtight container for 3–4 days in the refrigerator. For freezing, portion into airtight containers and freeze up to 2 months.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!