Pesto Cream Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli

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  • Prep Time

    10 mins

  • Cook Time

    10 mins

  • Total Time

    30 mins

  • Servings

    4 people

  • Calories

    665 kcal

  • Course

    Dinner

  • Cuisine

    Italian

Pesto Cream Pasta with Chicken and Broccoli

Creamy chicken pesto pasta with broccoli takes advantage of a few shortcuts for an easy and flavorful 30-minute meal!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • ½ lb. uncooked penne pasta (or sub with another short pasta, such as rigatoni, rotini, farfalle, or fusilli)
  • 1 cup fresh broccoli florets, chopped into bite-size pieces
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ½ cup heavy cream, at room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons basil pesto (we like this homemade pesto or this store-bought Giovanni Rana pesto)
  • ½ cup finely-grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups cooked, pulled or diced chicken (such as the meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken)
  • ¼ cup chopped, toasted pecans, optional
  • Optional garnish: crushed red pepper flakes, lemon wedges, additional Parmesan, chopped fresh parsley or fresh basil
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Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of well salted boiling water for 1 minute less than al dente, according to package instructions. During the final 2 minutes of the cooking time, add the broccoli florets to the boiling water with the pasta. Drain.
  2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth, increase the heat, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat so that the liquid is at a gentle simmer. Stir in the cream, pesto, and Parmesan until smooth.
  3. Add the cooked pasta, broccoli, and chicken to the sauce. Let it bubble and thicken slightly, stirring frequently, until all of the ingredients are warmed through, about 2 more minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish with toasted pecans and other optional toppings if desired.

Notes

  • Do not substitute with half-and-half or whole milk in this sauce. The heavy cream provides the best texture and flavor, and is the least likely to separate when simmered in the skillet.
  • Make sure that the cream is at room temperature when you add it to the skillet. This will help to prevent it from curdling or separating in the pan.

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Serving 1/4 of the recipe Calories 665kcal (33%) Carbohydrates 47g (16%) Protein 40g (80%) Fat 35g (54%) Saturated Fat 16g (80%) Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 151mg (50%) Sodium 603mg (25%) Potassium 734mg (21%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 3g (6%) Vitamin A 1141IU (23%) Vitamin C 24mg (27%) Calcium 210mg (21%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 665 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1/4 of the recipe
Calories 665kcal 33%
Carbohydrates 47g 16%
Protein 40g 80%
Fat 35g 54%
Saturated Fat 16g 80%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 151mg 50%
Sodium 603mg 25%
Potassium 734mg 16%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 3g 6%
Vitamin A 1141IU 23%
Vitamin C 24mg 27%
Calcium 210mg 21%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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