Name: Creamy Rotisserie Chicken Broccoli Pasta
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 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)

Description

A comforting meal perfect for busy weeknights, combining tender penne pasta, juicy rotisserie chicken, and vibrant broccoli in a creamy sauce.

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)

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Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook penne pasta according to package directions until al dente.
Add broccoli florets to the pasta water for the last 3 minutes of cooking.
Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water, then drain the pasta and broccoli together and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium-low heat. Sauté diced onion for about 4-5 minutes until softened.
Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth, bringing to a gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Remove from heat and whisk in Parmesan and mozzarella until smooth. Season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Toss the drained pasta and broccoli into the creamy sauce. Gently fold in the shredded rotisserie chicken.
Add reserved pasta water gradually until the sauce reaches a creamy consistency. Stir in a cold knob of butter just before serving.

Notes

For lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream. Feel free to add extra vegetables for nutrition.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 520
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 600mg
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 30g
Cholesterol: 90mg