Description
This Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta is a creamy, comforting Italian-American dish featuring tender chicken breast strips, fresh broccoli florets, and fettuccine pasta tossed in a rich homemade Alfredo sauce made with butter, garlic, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner, this meal combines flavorful sautéed chicken with healthy green vegetables in a luscious, cheesy cream sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 12 oz fettuccine or pasta of choice
- 2 cups broccoli florets
Chicken
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Alfredo Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
Garnish
- Chopped parsley
- Extra Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta and broccoli: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the fettuccine according to the package directions. During the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli florets to the boiling water with the pasta. Once cooked, drain the pasta and broccoli together and set aside.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the sliced chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Add the chicken strips to the skillet and cook for 4–5 minutes per side until they are golden brown and thoroughly cooked. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the Alfredo sauce: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned. Pour in the heavy cream and bring it to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Add flavorings and thicken the sauce: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and nutmeg if using. Continue to simmer the sauce for 3–4 minutes until it thickens slightly to a creamy consistency.
- Combine pasta, broccoli, and chicken: Return the cooked pasta, broccoli, and chicken strips to the skillet with the Alfredo sauce. Toss everything gently to coat all ingredients evenly and heat through for 1–2 minutes.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and garnish with chopped parsley and extra Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- You can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream if you prefer a lighter sauce.
- For a quicker meal, use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken instead of cooking fresh chicken breasts.
- Add red pepper flakes to the sauce if you want a little heat and spice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
