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    Home » Chicken & Poultry

    One Pot Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

    Published: Feb 19, 2018 / Updated: Dec 31, 2022 / 66 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    This one pot chicken and broccoli pasta is quick, easy, and you will love the creamy garlic sauce! Ready in 30 minutes.

    For more chicken and broccoli goodness, try my Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Bake next.

    one-pot chicken broccoli pasta on a plate with grated parmesan

    I'm pleased with this creamy chicken and broccoli pasta! I think that it'll appeal to quite a lot of people. Chicken and broccoli are perennial favorites, and one pot meals are so convenient.

    This chicken and broccoli recipe isn't fancy, but it's one of those stick-to-your-ribs kinda meals. Perfect for Canadian February days. I won't say this pasta is super healthy, but I did replace heavy cream with half-and-half, so it is definitely lighter than it could be.

    Love broccoli? Try my Easy Creamy Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta, my Simple Sausage and Broccoli Pasta, this Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup Recipe, or my Healthy Broccoli Salad. 

    a pot with chicken broccoli pasta

    How do you make one pot pasta?

    Start by sautéing the chicken. You then add garlic, the liquid ingredients, and the pasta. The starch in the pasta will release and thicken the sauce as it cooks. Stir it occasionally, and pretty soon you'll see it transform!

    I like to wait until towards the end to add more delicate ingredients that tend to overcook (broccoli in this case).

    earthenware plate with chicken broccoli pasta

    I'll admit I'm not always chicken's #1 fan, but even I couldn't resist sneaking a few bites of this chicken pasta recipe before it made it to a plate.

    I like making one pot pasta recipes every now and then because 1) fewer dishes and 2) the magical way the starch in the pasta thickens up the sauce. When you get the liquid ratios correct, magic happens. 🙂

    plate of chicken broccoli pasta with grated parmesan beside a cloth napkin and parsley sprigs for garnish

    I added some red pepper flakes for a pop of spice and color, but feel free to leave those out if you'd prefer. I was actually considering grating a little bit of lemon zest on at the end, but I totally forgot.

    Typical me, I come up with all these ideas and then forget to do them once I'm actually in the kitchen. Anyway, that's an option if you're interested. 😉

    Other one pot pasta recipes you may like:

    • One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta
    • One Pot Ham and Pea Pasta
    • Chicken Bacon Gnocchi
    • Creamy Tuscan Sausage Gnocchi (One Pan, 20 Minutes)

    close-up of pot with chicken broccoli pasta and a wooden cooking spoon

    Hope you try this one pot broccoli and chicken pasta! 

    Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions.

    This one pot chicken and broccoli pasta is quick, easy, and you will love the creamy garlic sauce! Ready in 30 minutes.

    One Pot Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

    This one pot chicken and broccoli pasta is quick, easy, and you will love the creamy garlic sauce! 
    4.91 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Pasta
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size strips
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 4 dashes Italian seasoning
    • 1 (10 fluid ounce) can chicken broth
    • 2 cups half-and-half
    • 3 cups uncooked fusilli pasta 
    • 1 small head broccoli cut into florets
    • Salt & pepper to taste
    • Red pepper flakes to taste 
    • Freshly grated parmesan cheese to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Prep your chicken. Add it to a large pot along with the olive oil. Give it a good stir and sauté over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes.
    • Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, chicken broth, half-and-half, and pasta to the pot. Increase the heat to high and bring to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium (or medium-low if it is still bubbling a lot). Let it simmer for 8 minutes, giving it the occasional stir so the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
    • Meanwhile, prep your broccoli. Keep in mind that the smaller you chop the florets, the softer it'll be once the pasta is cooked (I prefer mine fairly crisp so don't cut them too small).
    • Add the broccoli to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and cook for 4-5 minutes. 
    • Season the pasta with salt & pepper, and add the red pepper flakes if using. If the broccoli is still too crisp, cook it for another couple of minutes. Serve immediately with fresh parmesan. 

    Notes

    • This recipe is accurate as tested on my stove. However, stoves (especially electric ones) can vary, so if you notice the pasta is not yet cooked and there doesn't seem to be enough liquid, I suggest using your best judgment and adding a bit more liquid as needed, a half cup at a time until the pasta is cooked. 
    • Some pastas absorb more liquid than others, so I suggest sticking to the type of pasta I recommend in this recipe.
    Keyword chicken and broccoli pasta
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Fresh and Easy Green Lentil Salad Recipe
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    1. Kelsie says

      April 20, 2022 at 6:48 PM

      5 stars
      So delicious!! I added cream cheese, spinach and extra Italian seasoning.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 20, 2022 at 9:47 PM

        Excellent! So glad you liked it, Kelsie!

        Reply
    2. AngelaML says

      April 29, 2021 at 4:22 PM

      5 stars
      Thank you Natasha for this lighter creamy one pot meal. It was so delicious and I did so many things wrong, and yet we still all loved it!

      I had chicken already cooked so we used that. I had stored it in a quart sized container so it was probably more than the recipe called for. I also put the cooked chicken in too soon. Here in the US pasta comes standard in 16 oz box/bag which is 4 cups. So I used all of it because I didn't want to waste pasta. I did add more liquid to account for that, but in the end I didn't add enough. Leftovers were great as we could add more liquid when reheating it. So I added a big note to myself to REALLY add more liquid next time and watch it more closely (as you wisely had noted we should do).

      Looking forward to making it again! This is one of my favorite restaurant meals so it's great to be able to make it easily at home.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 29, 2021 at 9:45 PM

        You're very welcome! I'm glad it worked out haha. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Kay says

      November 23, 2020 at 8:12 AM

      5 stars
      Simple and tasty for me and grandkids alike. Thank you. Used half fat cream fraiche here in UK.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 23, 2020 at 9:44 AM

        Great!! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Rachel says

      September 2, 2020 at 8:26 PM

      I’m dairy free what I can use to replace the half and half. More broth?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 2, 2020 at 8:38 PM

        Hi, I heard Silk brand makes a dairy-free whipping cream you could try maybe? You could try more broth, but I really can't say how it would be since the half-and-half is quite a large component of this recipe, and I haven't tested alternatives.

        Reply
      • BDT says

        October 7, 2020 at 4:49 PM

        What is half and half? I'm in Australia, I have never heard of it. Is it cream and water?

        Reply
        • Natasha says

          October 8, 2020 at 9:03 AM

          It's half cream and half milk. I know... it's so confusing what creams are called outside one's own country. I'm Canadian, and I try to write this website for a US audience, and I had to learn the differences. Not sure what the Aussie equivalent is called/if it exists. A lighter cream would work too!

          Reply
        • Andrea says

          January 9, 2021 at 4:58 AM

          I would maybe try coconut milk/cream instead. I have made a cabonara with the coconut cream and it was amazing, only a small hint of the coconut.

          Reply
          • Nikki says

            May 26, 2021 at 5:21 PM

            Non dairy creamer in the coffee creamer section!! This is my go to for milk in most of my recipes!!

            Reply
    5. Russell Mead says

      May 6, 2020 at 6:07 PM

      5 stars
      This is a staple in our kitchen! I use more garlic and Italian seasoning. Then I add cheese in the process of cooking the pasta. This makes the sauce cheesy and thicker. Awesome recipe!!!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 7, 2020 at 8:34 AM

        I'm so happy you like it!! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂

        Reply
    6. Jo says

      May 6, 2020 at 7:21 AM

      5 stars
      I made this dairy free and gluten free. I replaced the half and half with full fat coconut milk then added a splash (about 1.5 tsp) of vinegar to offset the coconut taste and used Ronzoni gluten free pasta. I added lots of garlic and Italian seasoning since I did not add the cheese. It came out very creamy and tasty. This is definitely a keeper!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 6, 2020 at 8:15 AM

        I'm so happy it worked out for you, Jo! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Kristen says

      April 27, 2020 at 12:11 PM

      4 stars
      This was really tasty! I’m commenting because I had to make a few substitutions and it still came out really good- I used 2% milk instead of half and half, and whole wheat pasta instead of regular [...]. I added a little butter to make up for the missing fat from the half and half and extra Parmesan- yum! Also for reference 3 cups of dry pasta works out to about half a box- that always throws me when I’m seeing if I have what I need for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 28, 2020 at 11:42 AM

        So glad it worked out for you!! Thank you for leaving me a comment. 🙂 (I edited your comment because bloggers have been told not to use buzzwords associated w. the current events as it could negatively impact our search rankings).

        Reply
    8. Aaron says

      April 8, 2020 at 7:59 PM

      5 stars
      I'm a kid and I cooked this meal with help from my dad. My family LOVE this Recipie. I now want this every night! So thanks for the AMAZING recipie.😁

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 8, 2020 at 8:58 PM

        That’s awesome, Aaron! Great job! 🤗

        Reply
    9. Caroline says

      February 24, 2020 at 2:01 PM

      Would I be able to replace the half n half with something for my lactose intolerant self?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 24, 2020 at 2:10 PM

        Hi Caroline, that's actually really hard for me to answer... especially in a recipe like this one that's done in one pot. The liquid measurements really matter, and the half-and-half reduces and mixes with the starch released from the pasta to make a nice sauce. I really couldn't speculate without testing, unfortunately. If there's a product you use and like that replaces cream/milk/etc., then you could definitely give it a try.

        Reply
        • Michelle Rebelo says

          September 29, 2020 at 6:08 PM

          My husband can’t do heavy cream which I know this recipe doesn’t call for but I found lactose free half and half I think made by silk. I hope other people see this and it helps. Thanks for the recipe. Going to try tonight.

          Reply
          • Natasha says

            September 29, 2020 at 6:14 PM

            Hi! Yes, I have heard of that. Let me know how it goes 🙂

            Reply
    10. Lissa says

      February 11, 2020 at 3:41 PM

      5 stars
      I am sitting at my table right now and loving this casserole!! It was so easy and quick to make. This is definitely going into our weekly rotation.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 12, 2020 at 9:25 AM

        I'm so happy you liked it, Lissa! 😀 Thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
    11. Emilie Jeanne Roy says

      January 11, 2020 at 3:42 PM

      Hi, I was wondering what I could do if it came out really liquidy? could I add flour or cornstarch to thicken the sauce up? Thanks

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 11, 2020 at 4:38 PM

        Hi Emilie! Yes, cornstarch should help. Flour might be a little clumpy.

        Reply
    12. Courtney says

      December 19, 2019 at 2:27 PM

      Hi - sounds delicious, what could I use instead of half and half? Milk or cream? We dont have half and half here

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 19, 2019 at 2:34 PM

        I’ve only tested it with half and half, so I would recommend mixing half cream with half milk. You could try with just milk, but I can’t be sure of the results. Let me know how it goes!

        Reply
    13. Susan says

      October 31, 2019 at 11:55 AM

      This looks great and I’m going to try it tonight. Does it work ok with frozen broccoli florets?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 31, 2019 at 1:06 PM

        Hi Susan! Thank you!! Good question.. I haven't tested it. I think it should be fine. They may go a bit more soggy, but other than that, I don't see why it wouldn't work. Let me know!

        Reply
    14. Tracy Pouliot says

      October 22, 2019 at 3:33 PM

      5 stars
      OMG so easy and my whole family loved it! That NEVER EVER HAPPENS.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 22, 2019 at 4:09 PM

        Haha I am so glad to hear it, Tracy!! 🙂

        Reply
    15. Moira says

      October 16, 2019 at 11:41 AM

      Hi, I'm excited to try this recipe! Do you think it would work with a lentil pasta? Or do you need the starch for the sauce? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        October 16, 2019 at 2:34 PM

        Hi Moira! Hmmm that's a toughie. I've never cooked with lentil pasta, so I can't really speculate unfortunately. I know chickpea pasta can thicken sauces up, but not sure about the lentils. The starch in this recipe definitely impacts the sauce quite a bit. If you do try, let me know how it goes!

        Reply
    16. Ali says

      September 20, 2019 at 11:14 AM

      Looks good! I have some already crooked and shredded chicken I need to use up, I wonder if I could use that? Still put it in at the beginning (obviously it doesn't actually need to be cooked through, just warmed up) or later on maybe? Also, is it 3 cups of pasta before being cooked?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 20, 2019 at 11:16 AM

        Hi Ali! Sure, I'd add the chicken in towards the end. 3 cups uncooked pasta. Just updated the recipe card to make it more clear. Let me know how you like the recipe!

        Reply
    17. Maram says

      September 19, 2019 at 10:10 AM

      Am I putting the pasta in uncooked?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 19, 2019 at 2:48 PM

        That’s right.

        Reply
    18. Kirsty says

      August 4, 2019 at 4:12 AM

      Can I make this ahead of time and then freeze it?

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        August 4, 2019 at 9:57 PM

        Hi! I’m not sure reheating the broccoli or that sauce would be ideal. I think the taste would be ok, but the texture may change a bit.

        Reply
    19. Lauren Mikula says

      September 10, 2018 at 6:39 PM

      5 stars
      Thank you! This was delicious and easy!! My 1.5 year old loved it too!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        September 12, 2018 at 5:58 PM

        I'm so happy to hear that!! Thanks for taking the time to leave me a comment, Lauren. 🙂

        Reply
    20. Matt Robinson says

      February 20, 2018 at 8:19 PM

      Absolutely love easy weeknight dinners like this!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 21, 2018 at 8:30 AM

        Thanks so much, Matt!

        Reply
    21. Lindsay Cotter says

      February 20, 2018 at 7:27 PM

      This one pot dinner is perfect for busy weeknights! Love how easy it is to make and the incredible flavors!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 20, 2018 at 7:42 PM

        Thanks so much!! 🙂

        Reply
    22. Gina @Running to the Kitchen says

      February 20, 2018 at 5:22 PM

      I'm always down for one pot meals! This looks amazing!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 20, 2018 at 6:01 PM

        Thanks!!

        Reply
    23. Stine Mari says

      February 20, 2018 at 8:26 AM

      This looks amazing! And I love the plate, so rustic.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 20, 2018 at 8:27 AM

        Thanks so much!! I found the plate at a local store that sells handmade pottery. I thought it was a good find too!

        Reply
    24. mus says

      February 19, 2018 at 8:54 PM

      Can u plz post an vegetarian pasta recipe

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 19, 2018 at 9:59 PM

        I'll work on some more. 🙂 Here's a couple in the meantime: https://www.saltandlavender.com/healthy-caprese-skillet-lasagna/ https://www.saltandlavender.com/spicy-eggplant-pasta/

        Reply
    25. Naomi says

      February 19, 2018 at 3:31 PM

      Love it when one-pot meals turn out this good looking and tasty!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 19, 2018 at 3:32 PM

        Thanks so much, Naomi!

        Reply
    26. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

      February 19, 2018 at 12:57 PM

      5 stars
      I love easy one pot meals like this one Natasha! Perfect for those busy weeknights!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 19, 2018 at 1:26 PM

        Thanks so much, Mary Ann!

        Reply
    27. Leigh Ann Chatagnier says

      February 19, 2018 at 11:53 AM

      What a great weeknight meal! I'm all about anything I can make in one pot!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 19, 2018 at 12:07 PM

        Thank you!! Same here. 😉

        Reply
    28. Jennifer Farley says

      February 19, 2018 at 11:01 AM

      These are such wonderful flavors!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 19, 2018 at 11:05 AM

        Thank you!! 🙂

        Reply
    29. Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy says

      February 19, 2018 at 10:59 AM

      One pot pasta for the win!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        February 19, 2018 at 11:05 AM

        Thanks!

        Reply
      • Dianne says

        May 15, 2018 at 2:15 PM

        Great enjoyed this very much!

        Reply
        • Natasha says

          May 15, 2018 at 2:21 PM

          That's great! Thanks for letting me know!

          Reply

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