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Mason Carter

Chicken Broccoli Pasta

This delicious chicken broccoli pasta is a light yet satisfying meal for those busy weeknights. Featuring tender chicken and nutritious broccoli in a creamy yet balanced sauce, this pasta dish is also super easy to whip up!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Pasta
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz 250 g rigatoni (or another type of short pasta)
  • 1 lb 450 g broccoli florets
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 lb 450 g chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 medium onion finely chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup 75 ml dry white wine
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme finely chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • 1 cup 250 ml half and half (single cream)
  • 1/3 cup 40 g grated Parmesan
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Add the broccoli florets to the same pot for the last 2-3 minutes to steam them. Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water before draining.
  2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil and butter in a large, deep pan over medium heat. Once the butter has melted and starts to foam, add the chicken. Season with salt and black pepper, and cook for 5-7 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
  3. In the same pan, add the chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the chopped garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
  4. Pour the dry white wine into the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer until the wine has mostly reduced.
  5. Stir in the fresh thyme and red chili flakes, then add the half and half (single cream). Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat and cook for 5 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
  6. Add the cooked pasta and broccoli to the skillet, tossing gently to mix everything together. Use a bit of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if it looks too thick.
  7. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and season with additional salt and black pepper to taste.
  8. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh thyme if you like.

Notes

Nutrition Information: Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 340Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 262mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 4gSugar: 4gProtein: 31g