🧾 Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 12 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or rotini)
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
- 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Salt to taste
- Optional: red pepper flakes, lemon zest
🔥 Instructions
1️⃣ Cook Pasta & Broccoli
- Boil pasta according to package directions.
- Add broccoli to the pasta water during the last 2–3 minutes.
- Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
2️⃣ Cook Chicken
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook chicken 5–7 minutes until golden and cooked through.
- Remove and set aside.
3️⃣ Make Cream Sauce
- In the same pan, sauté garlic 30 seconds.
- Add heavy cream and chicken broth.
- Simmer 3–5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Stir in Parmesan and Italian seasoning.
4️⃣ Combine
- Return chicken to the pan.
- Add drained pasta and broccoli.
- Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water if needed to loosen sauce.
5️⃣ Finish
- Adjust salt and pepper.
- Add lemon zest or red pepper flakes if desired.
- Serve warm with extra Parmesan on top.
✨ Make It Even Better
- Add mushrooms or spinach
- Swap heavy cream for half-and-half for lighter version
- Use grilled chicken for extra flavor
- Stir in a spoonful of cream cheese for ultra-creaminess
