Description
This creamy rotisserie chicken broccoli pasta combines a rich cheese sauce with tender chicken and nutritious broccoli, making it an ideal weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb penne pasta
- 1 whole rotisserie chicken (3–4 lbs, shredded, about 4 cups meat)
- 4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced fine)
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced small)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (whole milk, shredded)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta according to the package directions until al dente. During the last 3 minutes of cooking time, add the broccoli florets directly to the pasta water.
- Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and broccoli together in a colander and set them aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium-low heat. Once melted, add the diced onion and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened. Then, add the minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, bringing the mixture to a gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from heat to prevent the sauce from becoming grainy. Whisk in the freshly grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheese until smooth. Season the sauce with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Gently fold in the drained pasta and broccoli to the sauce, ensuring everything is well-coated. Add the shredded rotisserie chicken last, mixing until evenly distributed.
- If the sauce is too thick, add the reserved pasta water a couple of tablespoons at a time until you achieve the desired creamy consistency. For an extra touch, stir in a cold knob of butter just before serving.
Notes
For best flavor, use freshly grated cheese. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 100mg