Description
A quick and comforting dish featuring penne pasta, succulent rotisserie chicken, and vibrant broccoli in a creamy sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb penne pasta
- 1 whole rotisserie chicken (about 3–4 lbs, shredded, roughly 4 cups of meat)
- 4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 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 whole milk mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional for spice)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook until al dente. In the last three minutes, add the broccoli florets.
- Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and broccoli, then set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium-low heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Let simmer gently for 2-3 minutes without boiling.
- Remove from heat and whisk in Parmesan and mozzarella cheese until smooth. Season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and optional red pepper flakes.
- Gently toss the drained pasta and broccoli into the creamy sauce. Fold in the shredded rotisserie chicken last.
- If the sauce is too thick, stir in reserved pasta water 2 tablespoons at a time until you reach the desired consistency. For extra creaminess, stir in a cold knob of butter before serving.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Can be frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat thoroughly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: chicken pasta, creamy pasta, quick dinner, family meal, rotisserie chicken