Description
Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta is the ultimate comfort food! Juicy chicken, crisp-tender broccoli, and perfectly cooked penne come together in a rich, cheesy cream sauce. Ideal for busy weeknights or a cozy family dinner, this one-pan dish is easy to prepare and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) penne pasta
- 2 chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add chicken, and cook for 5–7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add broccoli florets and minced garlic. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until broccoli is tender-crisp.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add heavy cream to the skillet and bring to a simmer.
- Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and dried thyme. Cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
- Add cooked pasta and chicken back into the skillet. Toss to coat everything evenly with the creamy sauce.
- Remove from heat and garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- Swap out penne for any pasta shape you like—fettuccine, rotini, or bowtie all work well.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or a splash of white wine to the cream sauce.
- Make it a one-pot meal by boiling the pasta and broccoli together, then draining before adding to the sauce.
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quicker prep time.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 560 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: undefined
- Unsaturated Fat: undefined
- Trans Fat: undefined
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: creamy chicken broccoli pasta, chicken alfredo with broccoli, easy pasta recipe, comfort food dinner, weeknight meal, chicken pasta skillet