Description
Comforting Chicken and Broccoli Pasta blends creamy sauce with tender chicken and crisp vegetables. Quick weeknight dinner satisfies hunger with balanced flavors and simple ingredients you’ll enjoy preparing.
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340 grams) penne, fettuccine, or your favorite pasta
- 1 lb (453 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk (or half-and-half for creaminess)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Chopped parsley (optional)
- Additional Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a generously salted pot of water to a vigorous boil, then cook pasta according to package instructions, adding broccoli florets during the final 2-3 minutes of cooking.
- Protein Seasoning: Thoroughly coat chicken pieces with a robust blend of garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, ensuring complete flavor coverage.
- Chicken Searing: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then carefully introduce seasoned chicken, cooking until achieving a beautiful golden-brown exterior and fully cooked interior.
- Sauce Foundation: In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté minced garlic briefly, then sprinkle flour to create a smooth roux, stirring continuously for 1-2 minutes.
- Sauce Development: Gradually whisk in milk, allowing the mixture to simmer and thicken into a velvety consistency, then incorporate Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper to enhance the sauce’s depth of flavor.
- Final Assembly: Drain the pasta and broccoli, then reunite with the cooked chicken in the creamy sauce, gently tossing to ensure complete and even coating.
- Serving: Transfer the harmonious mixture to serving bowls, optionally embellishing with crushed red pepper flakes, fresh parsley, or an additional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for a final flourish.
Notes
Optimize Chicken Seasoning: Pat chicken dry before seasoning to help spices adhere better and create a crispier golden-brown exterior during cooking.
Prevent Sauce Clumping: Whisk milk into the roux slowly and consistently to avoid lumpy sauce, maintaining a smooth and creamy texture throughout preparation.
Broccoli Texture Control: Blanch broccoli briefly to maintain its vibrant green color and crisp-tender texture, avoiding overcooking that leads to mushy, discolored florets.
Dietary Adaptation Strategies: Swap regular pasta with gluten-free alternatives, use plant-based milk and cheese for vegan version, or replace chicken with tofu or chickpeas for protein variety.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 66 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg