Quick & Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Recipe for Dinner

Chicken and broccoli pasta elevates ordinary ingredients into a spectacular meal that satisfies deep hunger pangs.

Hearty proteins blend seamlessly with crisp vegetable textures, creating a balanced culinary experience.

Home cooks appreciate how quickly this dish comes together without complicated techniques.

Vibrant green florets provide incredible nutritional punch against tender meat and smooth noodle surfaces.

Families gravitate toward comfort foods that promise both flavor and substance in one convenient plate.

Seasonings elevate simple components, turning an everyday recipe into something extraordinary that feels like a restaurant-quality creation.

Professional chefs and kitchen novices alike can master this straightforward yet impressive dinner option.

Chicken and Broccoli Pasta That’s Always a Hit

• Savor Quick and Hearty Comfort: This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a satisfying meal that feels like a warm hug, delivering restaurant-quality flavors in under 30 minutes.
• Customize with Ease: The flexible recipe allows personal tweaks like swapping chicken for shrimp, using different cheeses, or adjusting spice levels to match individual taste preferences.
• Pack Nutrition in Every Bite: Combining lean protein from chicken, fiber-rich broccoli, and energy-giving pasta creates a balanced one-pot wonder that nourishes and delights both kids and adults without complicated preparation.
• Minimal Cleanup, Maximum Pleasure: Using just a pot and skillet, this recipe minimizes kitchen mess while maximizing flavor, making it perfect for busy weeknights when you want delicious food without extensive cooking or cleaning.

Ingredients List for Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Dinner

• Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that provides hearty texture and main dish foundation, choose fresh and trimmed for best results.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Adds rich, tangy flavor and creamy melting quality, select high-quality aged cheese for maximum taste.

• Broccoli Florets: Provides nutritious green vegetable with tender crunch, select bright green and firm florets.
• Onion: Builds foundational savory base for sauce, choose sweet yellow or white varieties.
• Garlic: Delivers aromatic depth and robust flavor, fresh cloves preferred over pre-minced.
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Offers concentrated sweet-tangy flavor and interesting texture, choose soft and plump variety.

• Pipe Rigate Pasta: Holds sauce well with ridged shape, any tubular pasta works as substitute.
• Butter: Creates smooth sauce base and adds richness, unsalted recommended for better seasoning control.
• All-Purpose Flour: Thickens sauce and creates smooth consistency, standard white flour works best.
• Milk: Provides creamy liquid base for sauce, whole milk preferred for richness.
• Vegetable Broth: Enhances overall flavor depth, low-sodium version recommended.
• Slap Ya Mama® Seasoning, Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, Smoked Paprika, Red Pepper Flakes: Create layered spice profile with balanced heat and complexity.

Step-by-Step Cooking for Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

Step 1: Kick Off The Pasta Preparation

Grab a large pot and fill it with water. Bring to a rolling boil and add pasta. Cook according to package instructions until perfectly tender. In the final three minutes of cooking, toss in broccoli florets to blanch.

• Pasta
• Broccoli florets

Drain completely and set aside in the pot.

Step 2: Sizzle The Chicken

• Diced onions
• Minced garlic
• Slap Ya Mama® seasoning
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Smoked paprika
• Red pepper flakes

Stir occasionally and cook until chicken turns golden and onions become soft and translucent.

Step 3: Create Magical Sauce

Dust the cooked chicken with flour and stir thoroughly. Pour in milk and vegetable broth while continuously whisking. Let the mixture bubble and simmer until it starts to thicken.

Step 4: Bring Everything Together

Lower the heat and fold in grated cheddar cheese until smooth and creamy. Pour the sauce over pasta and broccoli, mixing until every morsel is beautifully coated.

Step 5: Serve With Love

Plate the pasta hot. Pair with a crisp green salad or warm crusty bread slathered with garlic spread.

Enjoy your delicious meal!

Pro Tips to Balance Creaminess and Fresh Veggies

• Perfectly Cook Chicken: Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure crispy exterior and prevent soggy meat. Use medium-high heat for golden-brown searing.
• Cheese Melting Magic: Remove pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent grainy texture. Grate cheese freshly for smoother, more even melting.
• Broccoli Blanching Trick: Don't overcook broccoli; keep it bright green and slightly crisp. Add directly to pasta water in the last 3 minutes for perfect tenderness.
• Sauce Consistency Hack: Whisk flour and liquids slowly to avoid lumps. Let sauce simmer gently, stirring occasionally to reach desired thickness without burning.
• Flavor Boost Technique: Toast spices briefly in butter before adding chicken to enhance their aromatics and deepen overall dish flavor profile.

Save and Reheat Chicken Broccoli Pasta with Ease

• Refrigeration: Transfer cooled pasta to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Seal tightly to prevent moisture loss and maintain flavor.
• Freezing: Package pasta in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty zip-lock bags, removing excess air. Freeze for up to 2 months. Label with the date to track freshness.
• Reheating: Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of milk or broth to restore creamy consistency. Stir frequently to prevent sticking and ensure even heating. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly.

What to Serve with Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Serve this creamy chicken pasta with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. These light, refreshing wines cut through the richness of the cheese sauce and complement the herbs and chicken perfectly.
• Match with Zesty Salad Side: Create a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette. The peppery greens and tangy dressing will balance the creamy pasta and provide a fresh contrast to the rich, cheesy dish.
• Complement with Garlic Bread: Toasted crusty bread brushed with garlic butter makes an ideal accompaniment. The crispy texture and garlicky flavor enhance the chicken and broccoli pasta, making each bite more satisfying and adding a delightful crunch.
• Boost with Chilled Beer Pairing: A light, hoppy craft beer like a wheat ale or pale lager works wonderfully. The beer's carbonation and mild bitterness help cut through the creamy sauce and cleanse the palate between bites.

Mix-In Ideas to Refresh This Pasta Favorite

• Spicy Mediterranean Fusion: Replace sun-dried tomatoes with kalamata olives, swap Slap Ya Mama® seasoning for za'atar spice blend, and add crumbled feta cheese for a Mediterranean-inspired version.
• Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta: Substitute the cheese sauce with homemade basil pesto, adding roasted pine nuts and extra virgin olive oil for a fresh, herbaceous flavor profile.
• Light Veggie-Packed Option: Swap chicken with roasted cauliflower, add spinach and zucchini, use low-fat milk, and incorporate nutritional yeast instead of cheddar for a healthier alternative.
• Cajun Seafood Transformation: Replace chicken with shrimp or crawfish, increase red pepper flakes, use andouille sausage for extra spice, and add bell peppers for a New Orleans-style seafood pasta experience.

Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Creamy chicken and broccoli pasta delivers comfort in every forkful. Parmesan, garlic, and tender chicken blend with crisp broccoli, creating a hearty meal you’ll crave again and again.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Proteins:

• 2 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 ounces (85 grams) sun-dried tomatoes, coarsely chopped

Pasta and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 16 ounces (454 grams) pipe rigate pasta
• 2½ cups milk
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama® seasoning
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook the pasta until it reaches a perfect al dente texture. During the final three minutes of cooking, introduce broccoli florets to gently blanch them, preserving their vibrant green color and crisp texture.
2. Simultaneously, heat a skillet over medium flame and melt butter until it shimmers. Add diced chicken breasts, chopped onions, and minced garlic, seasoning generously with Slap Ya Mama® seasoning, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes.
3. Sauté the chicken mixture, stirring periodically, until the meat turns golden and completely cooked through, and the onions become soft and translucent.
4. Dust the cooked chicken with flour, stirring thoroughly to create an even coating. Allow the flour to cook for a brief moment to eliminate any raw taste.
5. Gradually stream in milk and vegetable broth, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming. Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer and let it thicken into a smooth, creamy consistency.
6. Lower the heat and incorporate grated cheddar cheese, stirring until it melts completely and integrates seamlessly into the sauce.
7. Fold the sun-dried tomatoes into the pasta and broccoli mixture, then cascade the creamy cheese sauce over the top, ensuring every morsel is luxuriously coated.
8. Transfer to serving plates and accompany with a crisp salad or warm, buttered crusty bread for a complete and satisfying meal.

Notes

• Savor a hearty one-pot meal that transforms simple ingredients into a creamy, comforting chicken and broccoli pasta experience.
• Customize spice levels by adjusting red pepper flakes and Slap Ya Mama® seasoning to match your personal heat preference.
• Leftovers taste even better the next day as flavors continue to meld, making this dish perfect for meal prep and busy weeknights.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 665
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 950 mg
• Fat: 27 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 78 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 37 g
• Cholesterol: 98 mg