Garlic Parmesan Broccoli Chicken Pasta (Printable Copy)

Tender chicken and broccoli with penne in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce. An easy 40-minute skillet meal perfect for weeknight dinners.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 14 oz), cut into bite-size pieces

→ Pasta

02 - 10 oz penne, rigatoni, or rotini pasta

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 cups small broccoli florets
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped

→ Dairy and Cream

06 - 1 cup heavy cream
07 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
09 - 1/2 cup milk

→ Broth and Seasonings

10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herb blend, optional

→ Garnish

15 - Fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Additional grated Parmesan cheese, optional

# How to Make:

01 - Heat butter in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, season with salt and pepper, and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until lightly golden. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
03 - Pour in chicken broth, milk, and heavy cream. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.
04 - Add pasta and broccoli florets to the skillet. Stir well, cover, and cook over medium-low heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta reaches al dente texture and most liquid absorbs. Add additional broth or water if needed.
05 - Return cooked chicken to the skillet. Add Parmesan cheese, Italian herbs, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir until cheese melts and sauce becomes creamy.
06 - Taste the mixture and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper as desired.
07 - Transfer to serving bowls immediately. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one skillet, which means minimal cleanup and maximum time spent actually eating with people you care about.
  • The sauce is creamy without being heavy, and somehow tastes like it took way more effort than the actual 40 minutes it requires.
02 -
  • Don't skip tasting the sauce before serving—seasoning adjustments take 10 seconds but transform the entire dish from good to memorable.
  • If your pasta finishes cooking before most of the liquid is absorbed, raise the heat slightly for the last couple minutes, or you'll end up with soup instead of creamy pasta.
03 -
  • Keep the skillet lid on while the pasta cooks because it traps steam and helps the pasta absorb liquid more evenly, preventing that awkward phase where pasta is still crunchy but the sauce is already gone.
  • Grate your Parmesan fresh right before you need it—pre-shredded cheese contains cellulose that prevents it from melting smoothly into the sauce, leaving you with a grainy texture instead of creamy bliss.
Return