Looking for an easy and filling weeknight dinner recipe? Well, this chicken broccoli ziti might be all you are looking for.
This is a complete dish. You can get a full plate of this delicious pasta dish in less than 30 minutes. No fuss, no overly complicated steps. Just a straightforward dish that has all the nutrients you need.
In the protein department, we have a good amount of well-seasoned chicken breast. The key to getting a seared chicken is to dry the meat before seasoning and avoid constantly stirring the chicken. Just give it time to get that nice golden color and release all the flavor. Also, I like to use some chicken broth to enhance the flavor of the sauce.
The broccoli is a healthy addition and it gives a fresh and green touch to the pasta plate. Before cooking it, trim off the florets and don’t boil it for more than 6 minutes because you can end with mushy broccoli.
The creamy, cheesy and luscious white sauce is the star of this dish. You can add as much parmesan cheese as you want, but please don’t skip it. I promise you that it will be worthy.
I like to prepare big batches of pasta and keep it in the fridge for a couple days. Sadly, this dish is not one of the best to reheat. It can’t hold well in the fridge for over 24 hours and the broccoli usually become soggy. So, try to calculate the exact amount of pasta that you will need for your family dinner and no food will be wasted.
I really hope that you like this recipe and I see you in the next one!
Looking for more pasta recipes?
Chicken Alfredo with cherry tomatoes
Chicken Broccoli Ziti
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups uncooked ziti pasta
- 300 gr chicken breast
- 1 medium broccoli
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp oregano
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Cook the ziti pasta according to package instruction and take it out of water 1 minute before it’s completely cooked. Save ¼ pasta water for later.
- Cook the broccoli --- first trim off the florets ---- for about 5 minutes in boiling water with a pinch of salt.
- Cut the chicken breast into cubes and season it with salt, pepper, and oregano.
- In a big pan (big enough that you can later add the pasta and the cooked broccoli) melt the butter and toss the garlic and cook it for 20 - 30 seconds until it’s fragrant. Add the chicken and let it sear until it’s slightly golden.
- Pour the heavy cream and the chicken broth and simmer for a couple minutes over medium heat.
- Add the pasta, the broccoli and the pasta water and cook for a couple minutes until the sauce is thick and the pasta is fully cooked.
- Serve and sprinkle with parmesan cheese to taste.
I’m Maria and I love cooking—and mostly EATING—food from all around the world. I’ve been sharing my abuela’s secret Latin-American recipes for the last 7 years with the world on this blog. I’ve been a full-time food blogger for many years and I’m always trying new delicious meals that don’t require a culinary degree or a Michelin-star chef. I also love traveling, cats, and knitting.