Description
Heartwarming “comforting creamy chicken & broccoli pasta” brings Italian comfort straight to dinner tables with rich, velvety sauce embracing tender chicken and crisp broccoli. Irresistible flavors meld perfectly, promising a satisfying meal that warms your soul and delights your palate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
- 2 cups (300g) broccoli florets
- 8 ounces (225g) pasta (penne or fettuccine)
- 1 cup (100g) grated Parmesan cheese
Sauce and Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (360 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasoning and Aromatics:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot, bringing it to a rolling boil. Submerge the pasta and allow it to cook according to package guidance. During the final three minutes of pasta preparation, introduce broccoli florets directly into the bubbling water.
- While pasta simmers, warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature. Carefully introduce diced chicken pieces, allowing them to transform into a golden-brown exterior while ensuring complete internal cooking, verifying doneness through temperature or visual inspection.
- Utilize the same skillet for sauce creation. Gently sauté minced garlic until its aromatic essence permeates the kitchen. Sprinkle flour and quickly stir, creating a light roux. Slowly incorporate chicken broth, whisking consistently to prevent luminal formations.
- Reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Blend heavy cream and Parmesan cheese into the developing sauce, creating a luxuriously smooth texture. Season with strategic pinches of salt, cracked black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes for subtle heat.
- Consolidate all elements by introducing cooked pasta, tender broccoli, and perfectly prepared chicken into the creamy sauce. Rotate and fold ingredients carefully, ensuring comprehensive coating and uniform temperature throughout.
- Transfer to serving dishes, embellishing with freshly chopped parsley and an additional dusting of Parmesan cheese for visual and flavor enhancement. Present immediately while maintaining optimal warmth.
Notes
- Perfectly Cook Pasta and Broccoli: Time the pasta and broccoli cooking carefully to avoid overcooking, ensuring both remain tender-crisp and vibrant green.
- Achieve Creamy Sauce Consistency: Whisk the flour slowly into the broth to prevent lumps, creating a silky smooth sauce that clings beautifully to the pasta.
- Customize Protein Options: Swap chicken with tofu, shrimp, or plant-based protein alternatives for diverse dietary needs and preferences.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace regular flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend, and use gluten-free pasta to make the dish celiac-friendly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 100mg