Description
Home cooks adore this creamy chicken broccoli pasta for its rich, comforting flavors and simple preparation. Parmesan cheese and tender chicken create a delicious meal you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 lb (450 g) broccoli florets
- 8 oz (250 g) rigatoni or short pasta
- 1 cup (250 ml) half and half
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup (40 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ⅓ cup (75 ml) dry white wine
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped
- ¼ tsp red chili flakes
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a vigorous boil. Cook pasta until al dente, adding broccoli florets during the final cooking minutes. Reserve a cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Chicken Technique: Heat olive oil and butter in a spacious skillet over medium heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, searing until golden brown and completely cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside, preserving the skillet’s flavorful remnants.
- Aromatic Base: In the same skillet, sauté onions until translucent, then introduce minced garlic, allowing its fragrance to bloom without burning. Deglaze with dry white wine, scraping up caramelized bits to intensify the dish’s depth.
- Sauce Development: Add thyme and chili flakes to the skillet, then pour in half and half. Gently simmer the mixture, reducing it to create a velvety sauce. Incorporate the cooked chicken back into the skillet.
- Final Assembly: Combine pasta and broccoli with the creamy sauce, ensuring thorough coating. Adjust consistency using reserved pasta water if needed. Sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese, stirring to create a smooth, luxurious texture. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Presentation: Transfer to serving plates, garnishing with additional Parmesan and fresh thyme leaves. The dish offers a harmonious blend of creamy, savory flavors that promise pure culinary comfort.
Notes
- Pasta Water Magic: Reserve some starchy pasta water before draining to help create a silky, perfectly textured sauce that clings beautifully to the pasta.
- Chicken Searing Secrets: Ensure chicken is thoroughly cooked with a golden exterior by using medium heat and avoiding overcrowding the skillet for optimal browning.
- Wine Deglazing Trick: Use a wooden spoon to scrape up caramelized bits when adding white wine, unlocking deep, rich flavor compounds from the pan’s surface.
- Sauce Consistency Tip: Gradually add reserved pasta water if the sauce becomes too thick, creating a smooth, glossy coating that perfectly embraces the pasta and chicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg