Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Recipe

Today I’m bringing you a true weeknight champion: Chicken and Broccoli Pasta! If you’re craving a hearty, creamy dish that comes together faster than you can order takeout, stop right here. This recipe takes simple ingredients—tender chicken, vibrant broccoli, and a dreamy Parmesan sauce—and transforms them into a soul-satisfying meal. It’s the ultimate healthy-ish comfort food that the entire family will devour. Trust me, this one is about to be on repeat in your kitchen!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Lightning Fast: From start to finish, you’re looking at about 35 minutes! Perfect for those crazy weeknights when you need dinner on the table now.
• A Creamy Dream: We skip the heavy cream but still get that luscious, velvety sauce thanks to low-fat cream (or evaporated milk) and, of course, that magical Parmesan cheese.
• The Power Trio: Chicken, broccoli, and pasta—it’s a balanced meal that delivers protein, veggies, and carbs. No side dish needed!
• Totally Customizable: Want more heat? Add extra chili flakes! Need another veggie? Throw it in! This recipe is your canvas.

Ingredients

Gather up these key players! All you need for this beautiful pasta dish, and it all comes together in less than an hour.

• Penne Pasta: Our hearty vehicle for soaking up all that incredible sauce. Feel free to sub in rotini or fusilli if that’s what you have on hand!
• Olive Oil: The starting point for great flavor and the key to getting a nice golden sear on our chicken.
• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: Cut into bite-sized pieces so they cook quickly and disperse perfectly throughout the pasta.
• Broccoli Florets: The star veggie! They add beautiful color, texture, and a healthy boost. Don’t overcook them; we want them tender-crisp.
• Garlic: Because no good pasta sauce is complete without a few fragrant cloves of minced garlic.
• Small Onion: Sautéed with the garlic to build a savory, aromatic base for our sauce.
• Low-Fat Cream or Evaporated Milk: This is how we achieve that creamy texture without making the sauce overly heavy.
• Grated Parmesan Cheese: Essential for that irresistible salty, cheesy, umami depth. Use the good stuff!
• Italian Seasoning: A simple mix of dried herbs that adds that classic, warming Italian flavor profile.
• Chili Flakes (Optional): Just a little pinch to give the dish a wonderful, subtle warmth and kick—a total game-changer!
• Salt and Black Pepper: Our most important ingredients! Use them to perfectly balance and elevate every layer of flavor.
• Fresh Parsley: A beautiful, bright, finishing herb that adds a pop of green and a fresh, clean flavor right before serving.
• Juice of 1/2 Lemon: That final squeeze of acid cuts through the richness and brightens the entire dish—don’t skip this step!

Note: The full ingredient list with exact measurements is located in the recipe card right under this article.

How to Make the Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Recipe

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Toss in your penne and cook according to the package directions until it’s perfectly al dente (tender but with a slight bite). Drain it immediately, but hold on to about $1/2$ cup of that glorious starchy pasta water! You’ll need it later to get the sauce just right.

Step 2: Sear the Chicken

In a large skillet (the bigger the better!), heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add your bite-sized chicken pieces and season them generously with salt and pepper. Cook for about 6–8 minutes, flipping occasionally, until they’re golden on the outside and fully cooked through. Scoop the chicken out and set it aside—it’s waiting for its creamy bath!

Step 3: Build the Flavor Base

Use that same skillet (all those lovely brown bits add flavor!). Drop in the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté them for a quick 2–3 minutes until the onion is translucent and your kitchen smells absolutely divine.

Step 4: Soften the Broccoli

Toss the broccoli florets into the skillet. Cook them for another 3–4 minutes, stirring them occasionally. You want them to start getting tender and bright green, but still have a nice snap to them.

Step 5: Create the Creamy Sauce

Pour in your low-fat cream or evaporated milk and let it come to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and your pinch of chili flakes (if using). Stir constantly for a minute or two until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened up slightly.

Step 6: Toss and Combine

It’s time for the reunion! Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta and toss, toss, toss everything together until the pasta, chicken, and broccoli are completely coated in that rich, dreamy sauce.

Step 7: Perfect the Consistency

Take a look at your sauce. If it seems a little too tight or thick, grab that reserved pasta water and add it a tablespoon at a time. That starchy liquid will work magic, loosening the sauce while helping it cling beautifully to the penne.

Step 8: Finish and Serve

Finally, squeeze in that vibrant lemon juice and sprinkle your freshly chopped parsley all over the top. Give it one last gentle toss and serve immediately!

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

• Don’t Toss the Water! Seriously, the reserved pasta water is your secret weapon. It is full of starch and helps the sauce emulsify and stick to the pasta perfectly.
• Get That Sear: Make sure your skillet is hot when you add the chicken. Getting a nice golden crust on the chicken adds a ton of extra flavor to the final dish.
• Taste and Adjust: The key to a great dish is seasoning as you go. Taste the sauce right after you add the Parmesan and before you add the pasta. Does it need more salt? More pepper? A little more chili flake kick? Adjust it then!
• Keep the Broccoli Crisp: The broccoli will continue to soften slightly in the sauce. To avoid mushy veggies, pull the broccoli when it’s still slightly underdone in Step 4.

How to Serve

This pasta is truly a complete meal on its own, but here are a few ideas to make it even better:

• Garnish: Finish with an extra generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and some fresh basil leaves (if you don’t have parsley).
• Side Salad: Pair it with a simple, crisp green salad tossed in a light vinaigrette to add a little freshness and crunch.
• Bread Pairing: A slice of crusty Italian bread or toasted garlic bread is perfect for soaking up every last bit of that creamy sauce.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Pasta tends to soak up the sauce over time, but the flavor is still incredible!

Freezing

While you can freeze this, creamy sauces have a tendency to separate when thawed, so it might not have the same silky texture. If you choose to freeze, store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Reheating

To reheat, place leftovers in a skillet over low heat. Add a splash of water, milk, or chicken broth (about 1-2 tablespoons per serving) and stir gently until warmed through and the sauce has re-emulsified. Alternatively, use the microwave in 30-second intervals.

FAQs

1. Can I use a different type of protein or vegetable?

Absolutely! This recipe is super flexible. Swap the chicken for shrimp, cut-up Italian sausage, or even chickpeas for a vegetarian version. If you want a different vegetable, asparagus, mushrooms, or green peas work wonderfully in place of the broccoli. Just make sure to adjust cooking times as needed for the different ingredients.

2. How can I make this dish even creamier?

If you want a truly decadent sauce, you can definitely use full-fat heavy cream instead of low-fat cream or evaporated milk. For a subtle creaminess without adding more dairy, blend a small amount of the cooked broccoli and pasta water into a paste before adding it back to the skillet with the rest of the sauce ingredients.

3. Why do you recommend adding lemon juice at the end?

The lemon juice acts as an essential final flourish! Creamy and cheesy dishes can sometimes taste a little flat or heavy. The acidity from the fresh lemon cuts through the richness, brightens all the flavors, and adds a necessary pop of freshness that elevates the entire dish from good to great.

4. Can I prepare this in advance for meal prep?

Yes, you can! This dish is great for meal prepping. The best way to do it is to cook everything as directed, then divide it into your meal containers. When you reheat it, the pasta will have absorbed most of the sauce, so just add a teaspoon of water or milk before microwaving to restore a little moisture and prevent it from drying out.