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One Pan Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

Creamy chicken and broccoli alfredo pasta in a white ceramic skillet.

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A cozy, creamy, and comforting weeknight dinner made entirely in one skillet. This recipe stretches a single chicken breast with pantry staples, broccoli, and pasta for a rich, satisfying meal that’s ready in about 35 minutes with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 8-10 oz), cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 8 oz fettuccine or linguine pasta, broken in half
  • 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Brown the chicken. Heat olive oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook for 5-7 minutes until golden brown. Remove to a plate.
  2. Sauté the aromatics. In the same skillet, add remaining 1 tbsp butter. Add diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft. Stir in minced garlic and Italian seasoning; cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Build the one-pan sauce. Add broken pasta, broccoli florets, and chicken broth to the skillet. Stir, ensuring pasta is mostly submerged. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
  4. Simmer to perfection. Cover skillet and simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and broccoli is tender-crisp. Broth will reduce.
  5. Create the creamy Alfredo. Uncover and stir in heavy cream and cooked chicken. Simmer gently, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes to warm chicken and thicken sauce slightly.
  6. Finish with cheese. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in grated Parmesan until completely melted and sauce is creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Notes

For a smooth sauce, always remove pan from heat before adding Parmesan. Pre-grated cheese can make sauce grainy; freshly grate a block for best results. Leftovers thicken when chilled; reheat on stovetop with a splash of milk or broth.

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