Irresistible Hen Broccoli Pasta

Tender crisp broccoli florets and savory hen are good collectively on this creamy, tacky Hen Broccoli Pasta. I really like the textures and flavors on this tremendous quick meal. Neglect takeout, that is the type of simple dinner I’m going to for my busiest weeknights.

A close up horizontally aligned photo of a skillet full of chicken broccoli pasta.

Weeknight dinners are onerous, okay? Even now that my boys are older and may also help with the driving, all the actions on our calendar can nonetheless make getting dinner on the desk a bit overwhelming some nights. Dinners like this simple pasta resolve the issue.

And, it’s an answer I’ve dialed in over time, like with this Southwest chicken skillet, as a result of they simply work.

Straightforward Hen Broccoli Pasta

I’ve a good variety of recipes that use pre-cooked hen. I really like the way in which that I could make a giant batch within the sluggish cooker to save lots of me time in entrance of the range. Nevertheless, a store-bought rotisserie hen will work simply as properly.

And, broccoli has been showing at my desk on repeat, just about ever since I realized find out how to correctly prepare dinner it. Tender crisp, individuals! And since broccoli can also be my center son’s favourite vegetable, it’s included in our recipes steadily.

A vertically aligned image of portions of chicken pasta with broccoli on ceramic plates.

Elements and Substitutions

Pasta – I exploit half a pound of bucatini for this hen broccoli pasta. However, spaghetti, and even linguini noodles would additionally work.

Broccoli – I exploit a lot of broccoli (6 cups!). However, as a result of the florets are diced small, they simply incorporate all through the sauce.

Hen – I like to make use of pre-cooked chicken. However, for this recipe I used a rotisserie hen from the shop.

Butter – I at all times use salted butter, until in any other case famous. On this recipe, I exploit half a stick.

Recent Garlic – I exploit 3 cloves of garlic, until I’m craving extra. Some days, I simply can’t have an excessive amount of garlic.

Hen Broth – I exploit 2 cups of hen broth on this recipe.

Heavy Cream – I solely use 1 cup of heavy cream on this recipe. If the pasta isn’t saucy sufficient, you may also add slightly of the pasta water.

Flour – I exploit slightly flour on this recipe to thicken the sauce. If gluten is a priority, you may swap in corn starch as an alternative, however you’ll solely want about half as a lot.

Seasonings – I at all times use kosher salt and freshly floor black pepper in my recipes. And, I strongly desire recent parsley to dried parsley. You possibly can style the distinction!

Cheese – Is it actually pasta when you don’t high it with shredded cheese? I really like freshly shredded pecorino cheese with this pasta. However, parmesan works too.

overhead photo of broccoli chicken pasta on black and white towel

Learn how to Make Hen Broccoli Pasta

Boiling the Water: I set a big pot over excessive warmth on my range to warmth the water.

Cooking the Pasta: I add the pasta noodles to the boiling water with out breaking them, then I prepare dinner them for about 8 minutes, stirring often, till completed.

Prepping the Greens: I peel and mince the garlic and cube the broccoli florets into tiny items.

Melting the Butter: As soon as the greens are prepped, I add half the butter to my large skillet and soften it over medium warmth.

Including the Greens: I add the minced garlic and diced broccoli to the pan.

Sauteing the Greens: I give the broccoli and garlic a fast stir, then add water and canopy with a lid to prepare dinner for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.

Including the Hen: I add within the cooked hen and toss to mix. Then, I switch the hen and greens to a bowl.

Learn how to Make the Sauce

Beginning the Sauce: I begin the sauce by melting the remainder of the butter in the identical pan.

Whisking within the Flour: I sprinkle the flour over the butter after which whisk till it’s easy.

Including the Broth: I pour within the hen broth and proceed whisking till it has been absolutely included.

Rising the Warmth: I improve the warmth to medium-high and produce to a simmer, stirring often.

Including the Cream: As quickly because it simmers, I add the cream and whisk all of it collectively.

Decreasing the Warmth: As quickly because the cream begins to bubble once more, I scale back the warmth to low.

Simmering the Sauce: I let the sauce slowly simmer at low warmth for 8-10 minutes, stirring often till it begins to thicken.

Placing It All Collectively

Drain the Pasta: I drain the bucatini with a colander into the sink.

Including the Pasta: I add the cooked pasta to the sauce as soon as it has thickened.

Including the Different Elements: I return the hen and greens to the pan, and toss every thing collectively in order that it’s evenly coated with sauce.

Topping the Pasta: I end the hen broccoli pasta by freshly shredding some pecorino cheese over it, after which sprinkling with finely chopped parsley leaves.

Seasoning: I add salt and pepper on the finish as a result of the cheese additionally has salt in it.

chicken and broccoli in skillet with pasta in cream sauce

Professional Tip

This pasta lives or dies in these minutes the place the butter, flour, broth, and cream come collectively. So, I’m cautious to not rush the roux! A roux is only a fancy phrase for the primary stage of creating a sauce like this with butter and flour.

I’ve realized to let the flour and butter prepare dinner lengthy sufficient to lose the style of flour. Then, when the broth and cream are added, it would thicken into the silky and easy sauce that you really want! Persistence makes all of the distinction.

Chop Small – In a dish like this, I discover that it pays to cut issues slightly smaller than you suppose they need to be. Smaller items make it simpler to get all of the substances in each chunk.

Let it Relaxation – As soon as every thing is prepared, I give the pasta a couple of minutes to chill out within the pan, as an alternative of serving it piping scorching. Heat sauce has higher consistency and thickness.

creamy pasta with chicken and broccoli in stainless skillet

Serving Strategies

At any time when I make this recipe, I prefer to pair with one thing gentle and recent like this cucumber tomato salad or a sweet kale vegetable salad. This gives stability within the meal between the recent veg and the creamy, hearty hen pasta. If I’m feeling it, I’ll additionally whip up some recent garlic herb bread to go along with it.

And, is there ever a foul day for dessert? Not at my home! I really like ending this hen broccoli pasta with a skinny slice of this Hershey’s chocolate cake. It’s onerous to consider a greater be aware to finish on, reasonably than wealthy chocolate.

Make Forward & Storage

Make Forward: You are able to do a few of the prep for this recipe forward of time, however I don’t suggest making the entire dish beforehand. As a substitute, I prep the sauce with hen and greens, however don’t prepare dinner the noodles till able to serve.

Learn how to Retailer: I discover that this dinner retains properly within the fridge for as much as 3 days, if saved in an hermetic container. The sauce will thicken because it chills.

Learn how to reheat: The important thing to reheating this meal? I add a splash of cream or milk and use low warmth to deliver it again as much as the specified temperature on the range. I attempt to keep away from utilizing the microwave as a result of it tends to interrupt the sauce into an oily mess.

Tongs show the pasta close up in this vertically aligned image.

Extra Pasta Recipes

Steadily Requested Questions

Why is my pasta sauce runny?

If you happen to’ve adopted the directions, then chances are high good you nailed it. The sauce will thicken to consistency you need if you let it cool sufficient to eat!

Can I exploit frozen broccoli?

I don’t suggest it. Frozen broccoli has already been partially cooked, and so the end result will lack the textures that make it so good on this recipe.

What does “tender-crisp” truly imply?

The easiest way that I can clarify it’s that the broccoli must be vibrant inexperienced, and simply pierced with a fork. However, once I chew it, it nonetheless has a slight chunk. If it’s mushy, you went too far. If it’s nonetheless onerous, give it one other minute.

How do I do know when the roux is prepared?

I at all times take note of the slight coloration shift from yellow to white, and the aroma change. It ought to scent barely nutty. Right here’s video tutorial on making a roux.

Set a big pot of water over excessive warmth on the range. Prepare dinner and drain the pasta, in response to the instructions on the package deal.
Whereas the pasta is cooking, soften 2 tablespoons of butter in a big, deep skillet over medium warmth. Add the garlic and the broccoli, toss to coat. Then, add 2 tablespoons of water, and canopy with a lid.
Prepare dinner for 2-3 minutes till vibrant inexperienced and tender-crisp, stirring often. Then, add the hen, toss to mix, and switch every thing to a big bowl subsequent to the range.
Soften the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the identical skillet over medium warmth. Then, whisk the flour into the melted butter to create a roux.
Slowly add the hen broth, whisking to mix. Then, improve the warmth to medium-high and produce to a simmer. Simmer for 2 minutes, then add the cream.
As quickly because it simmers once more, scale back warmth to low. Let it simmer on low, stirring always for 8-10 minutes. The sauce will thicken barely because it cooks.
Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce and toss to coat. Then, return the hen and broccoli and toss gently to combine all through. Season to style with salt and pepper. Then, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and parsley earlier than serving.