Garlic Parmesan Chicken Broccoli Pasta (Printable Copy)

Creamy one-pot pasta with chicken, broccoli, and savory garlic Parmesan sauce

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 2 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 cups broccoli florets
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

→ Pasta

05 - 10 oz short pasta such as penne, fusilli, or rotini

→ Dairy

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

→ Pantry

10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

14 - Fresh parsley, chopped
15 - Extra grated Parmesan

# How to Make:

01 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add diced chicken, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until golden and cooked through, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
02 - In the same skillet, add chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, approximately 30 seconds.
03 - Stir in uncooked pasta, chicken broth, whole milk, and dried Italian herbs. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
04 - Add broccoli florets to the skillet, cover, and continue cooking for 5 to 6 minutes until pasta reaches al dente texture and broccoli is bright green and tender.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, cooking until fully melted and sauce becomes creamy. Return reserved chicken to the skillet, stir to combine thoroughly, and cook for 2 additional minutes to heat through.
06 - Adjust seasoning with additional salt and black pepper as needed. Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley and extra grated Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a one-skillet wonder that tastes way fancier than the effort involved, which is basically my life philosophy applied to pasta.
  • The chicken stays tender, the broccoli doesn't turn to mush, and the sauce clings to every piece like it's been simmering for days when it's really been maybe 20 minutes.
  • High protein and genuinely filling, so you're not hunting for snacks an hour later.
02 -
  • Don't skip the searing step with the chicken—those golden bits on the skillet bottom are liquid gold for flavor and turn into the base of an incredible sauce.
  • Keep the heat medium or medium-low throughout because high heat will break the cream and make your sauce split and grainy, which I learned the hard way and will never forget.
03 -
  • Grate your own Parmesan fresh and you'll notice the sauce becomes genuinely silky instead of grainy—pre-grated versions contain anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting.
  • Keep the heat at medium or lower because breaking cream sauce is incredibly easy and impossible to fix once it happens, something I definitely learned and definitely remember.
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