Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Minute Creamy Chicken Broccoli Penne

Minute Creamy Chicken Broccoli Penne – Quick & Easy Pasta Dinner

20-Minute Creamy Chicken Broccoli Penne

Serves 4

Ingredients

Scale

  • 12 oz (340 g) penne

  • 3 cups (300 g) broccoli florets

  • 1 lb (450 g) chicken breast, 2 cm cubes

  • 2 tbsp olive oil + 1 tbsp butter

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth

  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream (or half-and-half)

  • ¾ cup (75 g) grated Parmesan

  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ½ tsp chili flakes (opt)

  • Salt & black pepper, chopped parsley, lemon zest (opt)

Instructions

Method

  1. Boil pasta in salted water; add broccoli for last 2 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain.

  2. Season chicken with salt/pepper. Sear in oil (medium-high) 4–6 min until golden; set aside.

  3. In the same pan: butter + garlic 30 sec. Add broth; simmer 1 min scraping brown bits.

  4. Stir in cream, Italian seasoning, chili flakes; simmer 2–3 min to thicken.

  5. Add Parmesan, then chicken. Toss in pasta + broccoli, loosening with reserved water until glossy.

  6. Finish with parsley and lemon zest. Serve hot.

2) Lemony Garlic (No-Cream) Chicken Broccoli Pasta

  • Swap the cream for: ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil + juice & zest of 1 lemon.

  • After step 3, add ½ cup (120 ml) broth + ½ cup pasta water, emulsify with oil, then toss in ½ cup Parmesan off-heat. Bright, lighter, silky.

3) Cajun Chicken Alfredo

  • Toss chicken with 1–1½ tsp Cajun seasoning before searing.

  • Use cream as in recipe #1; add ½ tsp smoked paprika and a knob of butter with the Parmesan.

4) Pesto Chicken Broccoli Penne

  • Skip Italian seasoning and cream.

  • After deglazing with ½ cup broth, turn off heat and stir in ⅓–½ cup basil pesto + splash of pasta water and ½ cup Parmesan. Super fragrant.

5) High-Protein Greek Yogurt Sauce (Light & Tangy)

  • Simmer ½ cup broth with garlic; remove pan from heat.

  • Whisk in 1 cup plain Greek yogurt + ½ cup Parmesan until smooth (off heat to prevent curdling).

  • Toss with pasta, broccoli, and chicken; adjust with pasta water.

Easy swaps & adds

  • Pasta: penne → rigatoni, farfalle, or gluten-free.

  • Veg: broccoli → asparagus, peas, spinach, or zucchini.

  • Protein: chicken → shrimp (2–3 min cook) or rotisserie chicken.

  • Extras: sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, or crispy bacon.

Want me to format one version for your blog (SEO title, meta, FAQs, etc.)?

  • Author: laura