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Chicken Broccoli Pasta: The Ultimate 30-Minute Comfort Meal

Chicken Broccoli Pasta: The Ultimate 30-Minute Comfort Meal

This velvety rotisserie chicken and veggie medley delivers pure comfort in just 35 minutes using accessible pantry staples and pre-cooked chicken. It is the ultimate solution for busy weeknights when you need a balanced, restaurant-quality meal without the heavy lifting.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 535
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main
  • 1 lb penne pasta blank
  • 1 whole rotisserie chicken shredded
  • 4 cups broccoli florets blank
  • 2 tbsp olive oil blank
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 2 tbsp butter blank
  • 1 cup heavy cream blank
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth low-sodium
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning blank
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder blank
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes optional

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • large skillet
  • Colander
  • Cheese Grater
  • whisk
  • Tongs Or Large Spoon

Method
 

  1. Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the penne until it reaches an al dente texture.
  2. Toss the broccoli florets into the boiling pasta water during the final 3 minutes of the pasta's cook time.
  3. Save 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the mixture into a colander.
  4. Melt the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat, then sauté the onion until translucent.
  5. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds before pouring in the heavy cream and chicken broth to simmer gently.
  6. Take the skillet off the heat and whisk in the Parmesan and mozzarella until the sauce is perfectly smooth.
  7. Season the sauce with Italian herbs and garlic powder, then fold in the cooked pasta, broccoli, and shredded chicken.
  8. Thin the sauce with reserved pasta water as needed and stir in a final knob of butter for a glossy finish.

Notes

For the best results, ensure you pull the skillet off the burner before adding your cheeses to avoid a grainy texture. Using a mix of white and dark meat from the rotisserie chicken provides a richer flavor profile. If the sauce thickens too much while sitting, simply splash in a little more warm pasta water to loosen it up.