Description
A comforting, quick-to-prepare dish featuring tender pasta, fresh broccoli, and creamy sauces, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb penne pasta
- 1 whole rotisserie chicken (3–4 lbs, shredded, about 4 cups meat)
- 4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced fine)
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced small)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (whole milk, shredded)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. During the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli florets directly to the pasta water.
- Before draining, reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water, then drain the pasta and broccoli together and set aside.
- Heat olive oil and butter in your largest skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the diced onion for 4-5 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. Whisk in Parmesan and mozzarella cheese until smooth. Season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Add the drained pasta and broccoli to the creamy sauce, tossing gently with tongs to coat everything evenly. Fold in the shredded rotisserie chicken.
- Add reserved pasta water 2 tablespoons at a time until you reach a creamy consistency. Stir in a cold knob of butter just before serving.
Notes
Feel free to adjust vegetables as desired and ensure to use freshly grated cheese for the best melting texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 72g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: chicken pasta, creamy pasta, weeknight dinner