Description
This One Pan Creamy Pesto Chicken & Broccoli Pasta recipe is a delicious and satisfying meal that is perfect for busy weeknights. Tender chicken, crisp broccoli, and pasta are cooked in a creamy pesto sauce for a flavorful dish the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Broccoli:
- 3 cups broccoli florets
Sauce:
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 12 ounces penne or short pasta
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- juice of 1/2 lemon (optional)
Garnish:
- fresh basil or extra Parmesan for garnish
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook chicken until browned and cooked through.
- Add Broccoli: Add broccoli to the pan and cook until slightly tender.
- Cook Pasta: Pour in chicken broth, heavy cream, and pasta. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer until pasta is al dente.
- Finish Dish: Stir in pesto and Parmesan cheese until sauce is creamy. Add lemon juice if desired. Let sit to thicken, then serve hot, garnished with basil or extra cheese.
Notes
- You can substitute half-and-half for a lighter sauce.
- Try using store-bought rotisserie chicken for a quicker meal.
- Enhance the dish with sun-dried tomatoes or red pepper flakes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 590mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
