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    Home » Recipes » Pasta Dishes

    Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

    Published: Sep 7, 2020 · Modified: Apr 9, 2022 by Elizabeth · 5 Comments

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    A graphic with two images of the pasta that are separated in the middle by a dark gray block with white letters that read, chicken broccoli pasta.

    This chicken and broccoli pasta is an easy, affordable and delicious dinner your family will love. In this recipe, chicken breasts are combined with broccoli and pasta in a creamy garlic and parmesan sauce.

    An image of the pasta served in a blue bowl.

    The parmesan sauce is not too heavy because it’s made with milk instead of cream. This is a great meal to make on busy weeknights, and since it makes a nice big skillet of creamy goodness, you might even have a little leftover for lunch.

    If you’re a fan of creamy pasta recipes try this creamy pasta with chicken or this orecchiette with sausage and broccoli.

    This site contains affiliate links to products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Ingredients

    The prepped ingredients for the dish displayed on a white table.
    • 1½ tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 pound Chicken Breast, boneless, skinless – cut into roughly 1 inch pieces (Try to make them about the same size so that they cook at the same rate.)
    • 1 teaspoon Salt, plus 2 tablespoons for the pasta water (we used kosher salt)
    • 4 tablespoons Butter
    • 2-3 Garlic Cloves, minced
    • 3½ tablespoons Flour (all purpose)
    • 3 cups Whole Milk, warmed
    • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese, grated, plus extra for serving
    • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
    • 12 ounces Rotelle or Rotini Pasta, cooked to package directions for al dente
    • 12 ounces Broccoli, fresh or frozen
    • Crushed Red Pepper, for serving if desired

    Recipe tips

    • Start the pasta water – Before you begin cooking, start a large pot of water over medium to medium-high heat. Cover the pot and let the water heat up and come to a boil while you cook the chicken and start the sauce.
    • Having the pasta water ready to go will ensure both the pasta and the sauce will be ready at about the same time. If you wait until the end to start the water, the sauce will sit too long and start to thicken.
    • Par-cook the broccoli – Par-cooking is a technique that involves partially cooking food that will finish cooking later. It’s like getting a head start on an ingredient before adding it to the rest.
    • We don’t want the broccoli fully cooked when we add it to the sauce so it doesn’t get mushy. If you’re starting with fresh steam-in-the-bag vegetables: Cook the broccoli to package directions, but use only about half the suggested time. Carefully open the package to release the steam so they don’t keep cooking in the bag.
    • If you’re using frozen broccoli you just want to defrost them. Follow the package directions but reduce the time. Make sure to drain all of the water before adding it to the sauce.
    A close up of the chicken and broccoli pasta served in a blue plate.

    Instructions

    Cook the chicken

    • Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, add the chicken pieces. Arrange them so they’re in a single layer.
    • Cook the chicken, without disturbing for 2½ – 3 minutes. Stir and turn each piece and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes until it’s browned on both sides.
    • Don’t worry that it’s not cooked all the way through. It will finish cooking in the cream sauce.

    Make the sauce

    • Add the butter to the chicken. When the butter is melted, add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
    • Next, add the flour to the skillet and stir to combine well. Cook the flour for 2 ½ – 3 minutes to get the raw taste out. Stir frequently, almost constantly.
    • Slowly add the warm milk while stirring constantly until the sauce is smooth. When it comes to a simmer, lower the heat to low, cover the skillet and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer, raise or lower heat as needed.

    Make the pasta

    • While the sauce cooks make the pasta. Cook to package directions for al-dente. Remember to salt the water (one or two tablespoons should do it).
    • Before you drain the pasta, reserve about a cup of the cooking water just in case we need to loosen the sauce.
    The pasta served in a blue bowl with a beige linen on the left side and displayed on a light aqua blue table.

    Finish the chicken and broccoli pasta

    Add the parmesan cheese and black pepper to the sauce. Stir well until the ingredients are incorporated. Taste the sauce and add salt if needed. As a reference we added ¾ teaspoon to ours.

    Finally, add the pasta and broccoli to the creamy sauce, stir well. Cover the skillet and cook for 2-5 minutes or until the broccoli is the desired tenderness. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta cooking water, a tablespoon or two at a time until the desired consistency is reached, stir well.

    Serve with extra parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper, if desired.

    A bowl of the pasta and a fork holding up a piece of pasta, broccoli and chicken.

    You may also like these pasta recipes:

    • Lemon Pepper Pasta
    • Artichoke Chicken
    • Baked Ziti with Sausage
    • Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Tomatoes and Basil
    • Italian Sausage Spaghetti

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    An image of the pasta served in a blue bowl.
    Print Recipe
    4.75 from 4 votes

    Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

    This chicken and broccoli pasta is an easy, affordable and delicious dinner your family will love. In this recipe, chicken breast is combined with broccoli and pasta in a creamy garlic and parmesan sauce.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: chicken, easy pasta dinners
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 538kcal
    Author: Elizabeth

    Ingredients

    • 1½ tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 pound Chicken Breast boneless, skinless – cut into roughly 1 inch pieces
    • 1 teaspoon Salt plus 2 tablespoons for the pasta water (we used kosher salt)
    • 4 tablespoons Butter
    • 2-3 Garlic Cloves minced
    • 3½ tablespoons Flour all purpose
    • 3 cups Whole Milk warmed
    • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese grated, plus extra for serving
    • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
    • 12 ounces Rotelle or Rotini Pasta cooked to package directions for al dente
    • 12 ounces Broccoli fresh or frozen
    • Crushed Red Pepper for serving if desired

    Instructions

    • Season the chicken with 1 teaspoon of salt.
    • Start a large pot of water so the water will be boiling when it’s time to cook the pasta.
    • Par-cook the broccoli – whether using fresh steam-in-the-bag or frozen, use the package directions but use only about half the suggested cooking time. Make sure to open the package to release the steam and/or drain any liquid. Cut any large broccoli florets into smaller, bite sized pieces.

    Cook the chicken

    • Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, add the chicken. Arrange so they’re in a single layer. Cook, without disturbing for 2½ – 3 minutes. Stir and turn each piece and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes until the chicken is browned on both sides.

    Make the sauce

    • Add the butter to the chicken. When the butter is melted, add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
    • Add the flour to the skillet and stir to combine well. Cook the flour for 2½ – 3 minutes. Stir frequently, almost constantly.
    • Slowly add the warm milk while stirring constantly until the sauce is smooth. When it comes to a simmer, lower the heat to low, cover the skillet and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer, raise or lower heat as needed.
    • While the sauce cooks make the pasta. Cook to package directions for al-dente. Remember to salt the water. Before draining the pasta, reserve about a cup of the cooking water.

    Finish the chicken and broccoli pasta

    • Add the parmesan cheese and black pepper to the sauce. Stir well until the ingredients are incorporated. Taste the sauce and add salt if needed. As a reference we added ¾ teaspoon to ours.
    • Finally, add the pasta and broccoli to the creamy sauce, stir well. Cover the skillet and cook for 2-5 minutes or until the broccoli is the desired tenderness.
    • If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta cooking water, a tablespoon or two at a time until the desired consistency is reached, stir well.
    • Serve with extra parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper, if desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 538kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 1041mg | Potassium: 754mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 872IU | Vitamin C: 52mg | Calcium: 283mg | Iron: 2mg
    The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate.This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.

    More Pasta Dishes

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    • Baked Manicotti
    • Beef and Macaroni
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Julienne

      June 27, 2022 at 8:40 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight and used almond milk (that’s all I had) and fresh broccoli from a farm stand and it was really good.

      Reply
      • Elizabeth

        June 28, 2022 at 12:39 pm

        Hi Julienne,
        I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by.

        Reply
    2. Vicki

      January 04, 2021 at 5:53 pm

      4 stars
      Made recipie as directed .a little bland I will use more garlic next time. All in all a good recipe that comes together quick when you have all ingredients together. Beware this makes alot.

      Reply
      • Robin

        October 11, 2021 at 4:00 pm

        I’m about to make this tonight. I just wanted to say that these instructions for prep and cooking are the best I’ve ever read. Thank you!

        Reply
        • Elizabeth

          October 12, 2021 at 11:25 am

          Thank you, please let me know how like it.

          Reply

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    Hi, I’m Elizabeth! welcome to Cook2eatwell. Food is my favorite subject; I like to cook food, talk about food, write about food, and most importantly, eat food. Lucky for me, my husband Eddie feels the same way. 

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