Skip the restaurant tonight and have Italian comfort food from the comfort of your own kitchen! Chicken Penne with Broccoli is saturated in a creamy, savory sauce that you’ll find positively enchanting! The chicken is tender, the broccoli is garden-fresh and bright, and the pasta is the perfect vehicle for mopping up every drop of the sauce. It only takes 30 minutes to make Chicken Penne with Broccoli, so you can enjoy this incredible meal anytime you want without worrying about dressing up!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cubed
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese, grated, plus more, optional, to taste, for garnish
- red pepper flakes, optional, to taste, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Boil a large pot of water over high heat on the stovetop.
Step 2 –Add the penne pasta until slightly undercooked, about 8 minutes or about 4 minutes shy of al dente, according to the package directions.
Step 3 –Add the broccoli florets to the pot and simmer, covered, for 4 minutes.
Step 4 –Using a colander, carefully strain the broccoli-pasta mixture. Run cold water over the colander to prevent the mixture from continuing to cook.
Step 5 –Heat the now-empty pot over medium-high heat.
Step 6 –Add the olive oil.
Step 7 –Once the oil is hot, add the chicken and season with the salt and the pepper.
Step 8 –Once the chicken is cooked through and no pink remains, reading 165 degrees F when tested with a meat thermometer, transfer the chicken to a plate and set it aside.
Step 9 –In the same pot, allow the 1/4 cup of the butter to melt.
Step 10 –Once melted, add the garlic and stir for 10 seconds.
Step 11 –Add the heavy cream, the salt, the pepper, and the nutmeg to the butter-garlic mixture, stirring often.
Step 12 –Once the sauce is bubbling, add the 1 1/2 cups of the parmesan cheese and stir until the sauce has thickened.
Step 13 –Add the chicken, the pasta, and the broccoli back to the pot and stir until coated.
Step 14 –Serve with the extra parmesan and the red pepper flakes.
