Description
A delightful pasta dish combining tender penne, shredded rotisserie chicken, and vibrant broccoli in a rich, creamy sauce.
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 low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the penne pasta until al dente according to package instructions. During the last three minutes, toss in the broccoli florets to cook them along with the pasta.
- Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water.
- Drain the pasta and broccoli together and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium-low heat.
- Sauté the diced onions for 4-5 minutes until softened, then add the minced garlic for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring for about 2-3 minutes until the mixture gently simmers.
- Remove the skillet from heat and whisk in the Parmesan and mozzarella until melted and smooth.
- Season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
- Toss the drained pasta and broccoli in the creamy sauce, then fold in the shredded rotisserie chicken.
- Add reserved pasta water a couple of tablespoons at a time until achieving a creamy consistency. Stir in a cold knob of butter for a restaurant-quality finish.
Notes
Feel free to swap out broccoli for other vegetables like spinach or zucchini. Ensure to add a splash of broth or cream when reheating leftovers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: creamy pasta, chicken pasta, family dinner, quick meal