Description
Rich and comforting chicken and broccoli penne pasta blends Italian-inspired flavors with hearty ingredients. Cheese-laden sauce and tender chicken create a satisfying meal you’ll want to savor repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken fillets, cooked and cut into small cubes
- 8 oz (226 g) penne pasta
- 2 cups (300 g) broccoli, cut into small florets
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- 1 cup (100 g) grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps (16 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a salted water pot to a rolling boil. Cook penne according to package instructions, adding broccoli florets during the final cooking minutes. Drain completely and set aside.
- Aromatics Sauté: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium temperature. Introduce diced onions, cooking until translucent, then add minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper, sautéing until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Sauce Creation: Dust the sautéed aromatics with flour, whisking continuously to prevent lumps. Slowly stream whole milk into the mixture, stirring consistently until a velvety sauce forms. Maintain gentle heat, allowing the sauce to thicken and develop a smooth consistency.
- Cheese Integration: Incorporate grated parmesan cheese, stirring until fully melted and seamlessly blended. Gently fold in the reserved pasta, broccoli, and chicken, ensuring each component is thoroughly coated with the luxurious sauce. Warm the mixture through, allowing flavors to meld.
- Final Presentation: Transfer the creamy mixture to a serving dish. Garnish with an additional sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Taste and fine-tune seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately while the dish remains steaming and irresistibly creamy.
Notes
- Master Pasta Timing: Cook penne just until al dente to prevent mushiness, ensuring perfect texture when mixed with sauce.
- Sauce Whisking Technique: Continuously whisk milk and flour to eliminate lumps, creating a silky smooth base that coats ingredients evenly.
- Cheese Melting Trick: Add parmesan gradually and stir constantly to achieve a creamy, lump-free sauce that binds all ingredients seamlessly.
- Temperature Control: Keep heat gentle when combining sauce ingredients to prevent scalding milk and maintain a luxurious, velvety consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg