Chicken Broccoli Ziti

Name: Chicken Broccoli Ziti
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1x1-inch pieces); 10 ounces ziti pasta; 1 bunch broccoli (cut into florets); 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 1/2 cups chicken broth; 1 cup heavy cream; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)

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Make this amazing Chicken Broccoli Ziti coated in delicious creamy sauce! This is an easy weeknight dinner recipe that you can make in under 30 minutes!

Pasta, diced chicken, and broccolli in creamy sauce in a skillet.

If you are looking for a quick and easy comforting meal, try this amazing Chicken Broccoli Ziti! This is a delicious pasta recipe, made with creamy sauce, similar to Alfredo sauce, and packed with sauteed chicken and healthy broccoli.

The whole recipe comes together in only 30 minutes. And the only appliances you’ll need is a pot to boil pasta and broccoli, and a large skillet to sear the diced chicken, make the sauce, and mix all the components together.

If you like more comforting quick meals, check out these recipes:

Pasta, diced chicken, and broccolli in creamy sauce.

Why you will love this recipe

Quick and Easy. The whole recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make! Plus, it’s so easy to put it together. While the pasta and broccoli are cooking in a pot, you can sear the meat and prep the sauce. Then just mix everything together and the dinner is done!
Delicious. The sauce is very similar to the popular Alfredo sauce! It’s has a rich creamy texture that even picky eaters love!

Ingredients for chicken broccoli ziti in separate bowls.

How to make it

Cut the chicken breasts into 1×1-inch cubes and set aside. Cut a bunch of broccoli into florets and set aside.

Bring a large pot with water to boil. Transfer 10 oz ziti pasta and cook according to the instructions until al-dente.

When the pasta is almost cooked, add broccoli florets into the cooking pasta and cook for 3-4 minutes. When done, drain all the water.

Process photos of cooking pasta and broccoli in a pot.

While the pasta is cooking, preheat a large pan over medium/high heat and add 2 tbsp olive oil.

Add cubed chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 7-10 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through. Then scoop all the cooked meat out of the pan into a plate and set aside.

Process photos of searring diced chicken.

Low the heat to medium. In the same pan, melt 3 tbsp butter. Add 3 tbsp all-purpose flour and whisk until well combined for about 1 minute.

Process photos of adding butter and flour to the skillet and stirring it.

Add 1 ½ cups chicken broth and 1 cup heavy cream, then whisk again until the butter/flour mixture is dissolved.

Process photos of adding chicken stock and cream to the sauce.

Then add the seasoning (1 tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp dried oregano, and ¼ tsp red pepper flakes). Whisk and continue to whisk until the sauce gets thicker, about 7-10 minutes.

Process photos of adding spices and stirring the sauce.

Then add ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese and whisk again until well combined.

Process photos of adding grated Parmesan cheese to the creamy sauce.

Add cooked pasta and broccoli and toss them well, so everything is coated with the sauce.

Serve and enjoy this delicious Chicken Broccoli Ziti!

Process photos of adding seared chicken, pasta, and broccooli to the skillet with the sauce.

Tips for best results

Skillet. Make sure your skillet is large enough and has high rims, so it can fit everything. Mine is 4.5 qt and perfectly fits the whole meal.
Red Pepper Flakes. If you like your pasta a bit spicier, you can add some extra red pepper flakes. But remember that the longer you cook them in the sauce, the spicier they will be.
Pasta. While this recipe is for Ziti, you can really use any pasta you have on hands.
Chicken. When you pan sear the chicken, make sure you don’t overcook it, otherwise the meat will come out dry.

How to make this recipe healthier?

This recipe is definitely more comforting and includes more calories. While it’s totally worth to indulge it, there are a few ways you can make it a bit healthier.

Heavy Cream. Cream helps to make the sauce rich and creamy. It you want to reduce fat, you can substitute it with some light cream or even milk. Although, if you use milk, I would use 2 ½ cups of milk instead of 1 ½ cups chicken broth and 1 cup heavy cream. This way you still will be smooth and velvety
Vegetables. You can easily add more vegetables to this dish, like peas, cherry tomatoes, red bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, and more. If you want to use frozen peas, just add it to the boiling water together with broccoli. The rest of the vegies will need to be seared in the pan after to finish cooking the chicken.
Pasta. Feel free to use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta in this recipe. The cooking time for it might be slightly different, just follow the instructions on the box.

Pasta, diced chicken, and broccolli in creamy sauce in a grey plate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to store?

You can store the leftovers in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.

Can I freeze it?

I would not suggest to freeze this meal. The creamy sauce doesn’t freeze that well and it’s hard to defrost it keeping it creamy.

Can I use frozen broccoli?

Yes, you can use fresh or frozen broccoli in this recipe. Although, I prefer fresh.

Can I use other type of chicken?

While I prefer to use chicken breasts, you can also use skinless boneless thighs or even tenders. Just cut then into bite-size pieces.