Description
A delightful and easy pasta dish featuring rotisserie chicken, fresh broccoli, and a creamy sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners.
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 chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (whole milk, shredded)
- 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 according to the package directions until al dente. In the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli florets directly to the pasta water.
- Before draining, reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and broccoli together and set aside.
- In your largest skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium-low heat. Cook the diced onion for 4-5 minutes until it softens, then add the minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth. Let the mixture come to a gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat completely before adding the cheese. Whisk in the Parmesan and mozzarella until smooth, then season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Add the drained pasta and broccoli to the creamy sauce, tossing everything together evenly, and fold in the shredded rotisserie chicken last.
- Add the reserved pasta water 2 tablespoons at a time until you achieve a creamy consistency. Stir in a cold knob of butter just before serving.
Notes
To save time, shred the rotisserie chicken ahead of time. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: pasta, chicken, broccoli, creamy, rotisserie chicken