Chicken Broccoli Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce Recipe
This Chicken Broccoli Pasta recipe is a simple and delicious one-pan meal combining tender chicken, crisp broccoli, and a creamy tomato sauce tossed with your favorite pasta. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it balances protein, vegetables, and comfort in every bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Vegetables & Sauce
- 1 head broccoli, cut into florets
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Pasta & Garnish
- 1 pound pasta (penne, rotini, or your favorite shape)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Season the chicken: In a medium bowl, toss the cubed chicken with olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder until each piece is evenly coated.
- Cook the chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pieces are browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Avoid overcrowding the pan; cook in batches if necessary. Remove the cooked chicken and set aside.
- Cook the broccoli: Using the same skillet, add the broccoli florets and sauté for 3-4 minutes until they become slightly tender but still crisp, stirring occasionally.
- Simmer the sauce: Pour in the undrained diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for 5-7 minutes to develop flavor.
- Finish the sauce: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes if using. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as desired.
- Cook the pasta: Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Combine everything: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the broccoli and sauce. Gently stir to combine everything. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a little at a time until you reach your preferred sauce consistency.
- Add the chicken: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and stir to combine well, ensuring the chicken heats through.
- Finish & Serve: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the butter until melted and incorporated. Serve the pasta immediately, garnished with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- For a spicier dish, increase or omit the red pepper flakes based on your heat preference.
- Feel free to substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or a dairy-free alternative for a lighter sauce.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make the dish gluten free if needed.
- Reserve pasta water helps to loosen the sauce, so don’t skip this step.
- Work in batches when cooking chicken to ensure even browning and prevent steaming.
Keywords: chicken broccoli pasta, creamy pasta recipe, one-pan chicken dinner, easy weeknight meals, Italian chicken pasta
