Name: Creamy Broccoli Chicken Penne
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 250g (9oz) Penne Pasta: Use high-quality penne, cook ‘al dente’.; 300g (10.5oz) Skinless Chicken Breast, Diced: Bite-sized pieces for even cooking.; 200g (7oz) Fresh Broccoli Florets: Blanch briefly for color and texture.; 240ml (1 cup) Heavy Cream: Essential for a rich sauce.; 120ml (½ cup) Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: Control saltiness.; 30g (2 tbsp) Unsalted Butter: Base for the roux.; 30g (2 tbsp) All-Purpose Flour: Thickens the sauce.; 2 Cloves Roasted Garlic, Minced: Adds sweetness.; 1 tsp Lemon Zest: Brightens the sauce.; 1 tbsp Olive Oil: For sautéing chicken.; ½ tsp Smoked Paprika: Adds smoky depth.; ¼ tsp Ground Nutmeg: Adds warm undertones.; ½ tsp Sea Salt, plus more to taste; ¼ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper, plus more to taste; 1 tbsp Fresh Parsley, Chopped: For garnish.; 1 tbsp Toasted Pine Nuts: Adds crunch.; ¼ cup Shaved Parmesan Cheese: Adds umami.; 2ml (½ tsp) Herb-Infused Olive Oil (Basil or Thyme): Finishing touch.

Description

This Creamy Broccoli Chicken Penne is a comforting and flavorful weeknight dinner combining tender chicken, vibrant broccoli, and perfectly cooked pasta in a rich, luscious sauce. It’s surprisingly easy to make and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale

250g (9oz) Penne Pasta: Use high-quality penne, cook ‘al dente’.
300g (10.5oz) Skinless Chicken Breast, Diced: Bite-sized pieces for even cooking.
200g (7oz) Fresh Broccoli Florets: Blanch briefly for color and texture.
240ml (1 cup) Heavy Cream: Essential for a rich sauce.
120ml (½ cup) Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: Control saltiness.
30g (2 tbsp) Unsalted Butter: Base for the roux.
30g (2 tbsp) All-Purpose Flour: Thickens the sauce.
2 Cloves Roasted Garlic, Minced: Adds sweetness.
1 tsp Lemon Zest: Brightens the sauce.
1 tbsp Olive Oil: For sautéing chicken.
½ tsp Smoked Paprika: Adds smoky depth.
¼ tsp Ground Nutmeg: Adds warm undertones.
½ tsp Sea Salt, plus more to taste
¼ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper, plus more to taste
1 tbsp Fresh Parsley, Chopped: For garnish.
1 tbsp Toasted Pine Nuts: Adds crunch.
¼ cup Shaved Parmesan Cheese: Adds umami.
2ml (½ tsp) Herb-Infused Olive Oil (Basil or Thyme): Finishing touch.

Instructions

Cook Pasta: Boil penne ‘al dente’, drain, and set aside.
Sauté Chicken: Cook diced chicken with oil, salt, pepper, and paprika until golden and cooked through.
Bloom Garlic: Sauté minced roasted garlic until fragrant.
Create Roux: Melt butter, whisk in flour, cook for 1-2 minutes.
Build Sauce: Gradually whisk in broth and cream, simmer until thickened.
Flavor Infuse: Stir in lemon zest and nutmeg, season to taste.
Combine & Heat: Add chicken and broccoli, heat through.
Coat Pasta: Fold in pasta, let rest for 2 minutes.
Plate & Garnish: Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with parsley, pine nuts, and Parmesan.

Notes

Roasting the garlic mellows its flavor and adds sweetness. Blanching broccoli preserves color and texture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Pasta
Method: Skillet
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 550 kcal
Sugar: 10 g
Sodium: 400 mg
Fat: 30 g
Saturated Fat: 15 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 50 g
Fiber: 5 g
Protein: 30 g
Cholesterol: 100 mg

Keywords: pasta,chicken,broccoli,creamy,penne,dinner,comfort food,easy,weeknight