One Pot Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta

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This easy One Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta is ready in less than 20 minutes, all cooks in one single pot, and tastes like an indulgent creamy restaurant pasta dish. It's easy, it's light, and it will be a family favorite.

410 CAL 51g CARBS 12g FAT 39g PROTEIN
7 Comments

This recipe couldn't be any easier and the results are scrumptious! Try this one-pot creamy chicken broccoli pasta when you need dinner on the table in under 30 minutes. It’s so creamy and hearty that it’ll become your family’s new favorite.

Confession time: I’m becoming just a little bit obsessed with one-pot pasta dishes (I made this one-pot caprese pasta last week!). I’m too busy to dirty up - and wash - multiple pots and pans for one meal.

So that means that any meal that only produces one dirty dish is my kind of meal. Especially when it’s a creamy parmesan pasta dish packed with chicken, broccoli, and plenty of garlic.

Yum oh yum!

This chicken and broccoli pasta recipe tastes just like a simple chicken alfredo that’s perfect for an everyday dinner. It’s ready and on the table in under 30 minutes and makes such an easy and delicious dinner that your family will beg you to make it again and again.

Chicken broccoli pasta with Parmesan cheese in two bowls with a fork and knife on the side.

Key Ingredients For One-Pot Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta

These are the ingredients you need to make this one-pot pasta dish at home:

  • Chicken Breast: The chicken provides the protein in this dish. I went with boneless skinless chicken breasts to make prep time go faster.
  • Pasta: For this recipe, I decided to cook up some high fiber pasta. Using this kind of pasta provides more nutrients and makes for a heartier dish with fewer “empty” calories.
  • Chicken Broth: Using chicken broth instead of water infuses this dish with even more flavor than water would.
  • Skim Milk: Using skim milk instead of whole milk not only lessens the amount of fat in this dish but also provides that creamy texture that you crave.
  • Broccoli Florets: High in fiber and nutrients, this green vegetable tastes amazing when combined with the other ingredients.
  • Garlic: I love to add garlic to everything and this pasta dish is no different! The garlic gives this whole recipe a nice boost in flavor.
  • Parmesan Cheese: What's pasta without some cheese? Parmesan cheese provides the cheesy flavor that brings it all together.

Note: For a full list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make this creamy parmesan pasta recipe with chicken and broccoli, take a look at the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Recipe Tips And Ideas For Broccoli Chicken Pasta

Follow these tips to make sure that this pasta comes out delicious every single time.

  • When adding the chicken breasts to the pot, I recommend chopping it up into bite sized pieces so that it can cook faster and more evenly with the rest of the ingredients.
  • For this recipe, you can use fresh or frozen broccoli. Just be mindful that when using frozen broccoli, your dish might be a little bit more watered down. But, it's still delicious! (A little more on that down below)
  • To make it spicy, add a few dashes of hot red pepper flakes to give this creamy chicken pasta a nice kick of heat.

One pot chicken pasta with broccoli and a creamy parmesan cheese sauce in a bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parmesan Chicken Pasta With Broccoli

I’m sure you have at least one of these questions swirling around your brain. Here are the answers!

What makes the pasta taste so good?

The secret of this dish is cooking the pasta in a mixture of milk and chicken broth.

The milk, broth, and starch in the pasta combine to create a creamy, rich sauce right in the pot. The liquid keeps the chicken nice and moist and that's really all there is to it.

It's so easy and so good!

Can I use cooked chicken?

Yes, absolutely. If you have some leftover rotisserie or grilled chicken, it will taste amazing in this recipe - and save you a little preparation time too!

When using chicken that’s already been cooked, all you need to do is add the chicken towards the end of the cooking time so it can heat up and absorb some of that flavor from the creamy parmesan sauce before serving.

Can I use frozen broccoli?

Short answer: Yes, you can. However, frozen broccoli tends to be pretty watery when it’s thawed, so I prefer to use fresh broccoli florets in this recipe.

If you only have frozen broccoli, thaw it and drain as much water out as possible before adding it to the recipe.

How long will this creamy chicken pasta last in the fridge?

If you have any leftovers or make double the recipe to have some prepped for the rest of the week, make sure to store the pasta in an airtight container in the fridge. This should last up to 5 days.

What is the best way to reheat this pasta dish?

Because cream-based sauces can separate and get oily when you microwave them, I prefer to reheat this dish (and others like it) in a saucepan on the stove. This slow reheating process helps the sauce not separate and also allows you to stir it frequently to help prevent the pasta to dry out.

Can I freeze chicken broccoli pasta?

I’m not a big fan of freezing dairy-based sauces because they tend to separate when you thaw them.

However, if you like to make and prepare things ahead of time, you can freeze this recipe with some adjustments.

  1. Cook the pasta, chicken, and broccoli alone.
  2. Then, simply allow it to cool after cooking then put it in an air-tight, freezer-safe container. You can freeze it for up to 3 months.
  3. When you want to cook it, thaw it out at room temperature and then reheat it in a saucepan on medium heat and stir frequently. Add in the rest of the ingredients to make the parmesan sauce and stir everything to combine.
  4. Serve and enjoy!

Creamy chicken and broccoli pasta with chicken breast, fresh broccoli, and pasta in a bowl with shredded parmesan cheese on top.

More Delicious Pasta Recipes You’ll Love:

The Recipe
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One Pot Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta

410 CAL 51g CARBS 12g FAT 39g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 5 Min
COOK TIME: 20 Min
TOTAL TIME: 25 Min
7 Comments
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 2 tsp. olive oil
  • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 8 oz. high fiber pasta
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup skim milk (add more if needed)
  • 3 cups broccoli florets
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper

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Instructions

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1

Heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the pot and cook for 3-4 minutes until just browned.

Chicken being browned in a large pot.
2

Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add the pasta, chicken broth, and milk. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer. Cook for 16-20 minutes, stirring often. Add the broccoli after 8 minutes. Cook until the pasta is fully cooked and absorbed the liquid to create a creamy sauce. If needed added more milk or chicken broth.

Spaghetti, chicken broth, and garlic being added to a pot.
3

Stir in the Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and lots of black pepper.

Parmesan cheese being added to chicken and broccoli pasta.

Equipment

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Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 1.5 cups
Amount Per Serving
Calories 410
Calories from Fat 107
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 12g
18%
Saturated Fat 2g
9%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 62mg
20%
Sodium 244mg
11%
Total Carbohydrate 51g
17%
Dietary Fiber 8g
30%
Sugars 6g
Protein 39g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
7 Comments
On One Pot Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta
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Carrie
July 18, 2023 - 07:26
Add a Rating:
5
This was so good and so easy! The gluten-free spaghetti needed about a 1 to 1-1/2 additional cups of water. Hubby said it would be good with mushrooms in it, too. We’ll make it again!
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Nicole
May 16, 2023 - 16:54
Add a Rating:
5
I made this tonight. Subbed out the milk for original almond milk as I did not have regular milk on hand today, and then added some additional parmesan + cheddar cheese. It was delicious! Even my super picky toddler ate it as well
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Elaine
April 27, 2023 - 16:31
Add a Rating:
5
Perfect! I used leftover rotisserie chicken, and used half n half instead of skim milk, low sodium chicken broth, and a mix of Parmesan and Asiago cheese. I used lemon pepper instead of salt and pepper. Delicious!
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Shauna Dills
February 24, 2023 - 16:11
Add a Rating:
5
I NEVER comment on these things but this recipe is so good I have to! Hearty, flavorful, so easy (I used rotisserie chicken). On the weekly rotation. Thank you for sharing.
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Laura M
May 15, 2019 - 17:26
Add a Rating:
5
DELICIOUS!!!! Anything less than 5 starts is ludicrous! I used low sodium chicken broth and 1% milk but a lot of fresh garlic and a little extra grated parmesan, but...maybe that makes the difference between 4 and 5 stars?
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Renee Braye
March 22, 2017 - 17:19
Add a Rating:
5
Loved this dish! I am no gourmet so I added garlic powder to my chicken and more to my sauce. I also used more broth than it calls for. Sauce was creamy and flavorful
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Rebecca Erickson
September 14, 2016 - 16:38
Add a Rating:
3
My sauce for the recipe did not turn out that great and was a little flavorless. The recipe was easy to follow.
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