7 Amazing Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner

If you’re anything like me, the word Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner sounds like a dream come true after a long day. Hi there! I’m Anna, and I’m a total food lover, always on the hunt for simple and flavorful chicken recipes that make everyday cooking easier and way more joyful. That’s why this recipe is practically glued to my fridge!

Seriously, the best part about this meal is the cleanup—or lack thereof! We’re talking tender chicken, crisp broccoli, and a ridiculously good, creamy garlic sauce, all cooked right in one skillet. No mountains of dishes waiting for you, which means you get to actually relax after dinner. Trust me, this Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner is the essential weeknight hero you didn’t know you needed.

Why This Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner Works

When you’re juggling work, kids, or just a general need for quiet time, you don’t want a complicated recipe. This dish is designed for speed and flavor, meaning you get a restaurant-quality meal without the aftermath. It’s the perfect solution for busy home cooks looking for reliable results.

• Maximum Flavor, Minimum Mess: Everything cooks in one skillet. That’s right—the chicken sears, the veggies soften, and the sauce comes together all in that one pan. Cleanup is a breeze!
• Unbeatable Texture: We’re locking in moisture with the chicken while keeping the broccoli slightly snappy. The final addition of cheese creates a rich, velvety coating that tastes like you spent hours simmering.

Flavor Without the Fuss

The star here is that savory garlic and the creamy sauce. We use softened cream cheese and mozzarella, which melt down beautifully with the chicken juices and seasonings. It creates this incredibly comforting, rich coating over everything. You get that deep, satisfying flavor profile without having to build a complicated sauce base on the side. It’s pure, savory comfort food simplicity.

Quick Prep and Cook Times

If you’re looking at your clock and panicking, this recipe has your back. We’re talking about only 10 minutes of prep time! That’s just enough time to chop the chicken and measure out your spices. Then, it cooks in a speedy 15 minutes. Honestly, you can have this entire Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner on the table in about 25 minutes total. That’s faster than ordering takeout!

Essential Ingredients for Your Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner

Getting the right ingredients lined up is half the battle won when you’re aiming for a fast weeknight meal. Because this is a one-pan dish, every single ingredient plays a huge role in the final flavor and texture. We aren’t hiding anything behind layers of other components here; it’s all about quality and proper measurement. You’ll need chicken, some bright veggies, and the magic trio of cheeses to pull off that incredible creamy finish.

I always lay everything out on the counter before I even turn on the stove—it saves so much stress! Here’s what you need to gather for four generous servings:

Item	Quantity	Notes
Chicken Breast	1 pound	Boneless, skinless
Olive Oil	2 tablespoons	For searing
Garlic	4 cloves	Freshly minced is non-negotiable here!
Broccoli Florets	2 cups	Freshly cut
Cherry Tomatoes	1/2 cup	Halved
Fresh Spinach	1 cup	Packed
Mozzarella Cheese	1/2 cup	Shredded
Cream Cheese	4 ounces	Must be softened
Italian Seasoning	1 teaspoon	Dried blend
Salt & Pepper	1/4 teaspoon each	For seasoning the chicken

Chicken and Produce Selection

For the chicken, you absolutely must use boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into uniform, bite-sized pieces. If your pieces are all different sizes, some will dry out while others are still raw. We want even cooking so everything stays juicy! For the vegetables, we are using fresh broccoli florets—make sure they are about the same size too. The cherry tomatoes should be halved so they release their juices nicely into the sauce. Since the recipe calls for dried Italian seasoning, use a good quality blend. If you happen to have fresh herbs, you could use about 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano and basil combined, but the dried works perfectly fine for this quick dish.

Building the Creamy Sauce Base

This is where the richness comes from! You need 4 ounces of cream cheese, and listen to me: it *must* be softened. If you throw cold cream cheese into a hot skillet, you’ll end up with frustrating little lumps instead of a smooth sauce. I usually set mine out on the counter about an hour before I start cooking. Then, toss in your half cup of shredded mozzarella. We season the chicken simply with salt and pepper—I use a quarter teaspoon of each, but you can always adjust that a tiny bit towards the end if your taste buds demand more salt.

Equipment Required for Maximum Success

Since this is a one-pan wonder, we don’t need a massive arsenal of pots and pans cluttering up your cabinets! For this recipe, which yields four satisfying servings, the right skillet is your most important tool. You absolutely need a large, heavy-bottomed skillet. I recommend one that is at least 10 or 12 inches across so you have enough surface area to sear the chicken properly without crowding the pan.

• Large (10 to 12-inch) Skillet or pan
• Cutting board and sharp knife
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Wooden spoon or spatula for stirring
• Meat thermometer (this is a must for safety!)

Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner

Okay, time to get cooking! This is where the magic happens, and because everything is in one pan, we just move things around a bit until it’s all done. Remember, speed is key here, but we aren’t rushing the safety checks. Get your ingredients prepped and ready to go before you even think about turning on the heat!

Searing the Seasoned Chicken

First things first, grab that large skillet and set it over medium-high heat. Add your two tablespoons of olive oil and let it shimmer a little bit. Now, take your bite-sized chicken pieces and toss them with the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper right there on your cutting board or in a bowl. Don’t be shy with the seasoning!

Carefully add the seasoned chicken to the hot oil. We need to cook this for about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring every so often so it gets nice and golden brown on all sides. This is critical for flavor and texture! And here’s the most important part for peace of mind: use your meat thermometer! Chicken is safe to eat only when it hits an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius). Make sure every piece hits that mark before you move on.

Adding Aromatics and Vegetables

Once that chicken is cooked through and safe, make a little space in the center of the pan. Toss in your four cloves of minced garlic. Oh my gosh, the smell is about to change everything! You only want to cook the garlic for about 30 seconds—seriously, watch it closely—just until you can really smell that sharp, wonderful fragrance. If it browns too much, it gets bitter, and we don’t want that bitter flavor in our creamy sauce!

Next, throw in the two cups of broccoli florets and the halved cherry tomatoes. Stir everything gently to mix it in with the garlic and chicken juices. We’ll cook this combination for about 4 to 5 minutes. You’re looking for the broccoli to be tender crisp—meaning it should still have a little bite to it; we don’t want mushy broccoli in our Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner!

Creating the Creamy Finish

Now for the best part! Turn the heat down just a touch. Add your cup of fresh spinach, the softened cream cheese, and the shredded mozzarella cheese right into the pan over the vegetables and chicken. Now, stir gently. You need to coax those cheeses into melting and combining with the pan drippings to form that luxurious, creamy sauce. This usually takes about 2 minutes.

As soon as everything is melted and coated beautifully, take the pan completely off the heat. Don’t leave it sizzling on the burner while you stir the cheese, or you risk the sauce getting oily or breaking. Just remove it from the heat, give it one final loving stir to make sure everything is coated, and serve this amazing Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner immediately while it’s piping hot!

Tips for Achieving the Perfect Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner

Even though this is an easy chicken recipe, a few little tricks can take it from good to absolutely knock-your-socks-off amazing. Since we are relying on one pan for everything, technique matters more than you might think. These little details are what separate a decent weeknight meal from the one your family will request every single Tuesday.

Maintaining Even Cooking Consistency

Remember how I stressed cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces? This isn’t just me being fussy; it’s crucial for speed and juiciness! If you have some chunks that are tiny and others that are huge, the small ones will be dry and stringy by the time the huge ones finally hit that safe 165°F. Try to keep every piece roughly the same size—think uniform cubes. This ensures everything cooks through at the exact same time, keeping the whole dish tender.

Preventing Sauce Separation

The biggest danger when making a creamy sauce like this is adding the cheese when the pan is way too hot. If you stir the cream cheese and mozzarella while the pan is still roaring on medium-high, the fats can separate, leaving you with an oily mess instead of a velvety sauce. My biggest tip here is to add the spinach, cream cheese, and mozzarella only *after* you’ve taken the skillet completely off the burner. Stir slowly and gently until everything is just melted together. That gentle heat from the residual warmth is perfect for creating that smooth, luxurious coating for your Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner.

Storing and Reheating Your Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Meal

Don’t you just love having dinner ready for you the next day? This Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner reheats surprisingly well, though the spinach and broccoli might soften up a little more the second time around. The key is storing it correctly right away so that creamy sauce stays delicious.

You want to make sure you cool any leftovers down relatively quickly after you finish eating. Don’t just leave the skillet on the counter for hours; that’s how food safety goes wrong fast!

Best Practices for Refrigeration

The best way to store this is in a shallow, airtight container. If you want to keep the texture as close to fresh as possible, try to use a container that doesn’t leave a ton of empty air space above the food. That helps prevent any freezer burn or drying out if you decide to keep it longer than a couple of days.

You can safely keep leftovers of this creamy chicken in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days. When you are ready to reheat it, I find the microwave works best, but do it in short bursts, stirring in between, so the cheese sauce warms up evenly and doesn’t scorch on the bottom. If it seems a little too thick when reheating, just stir in a tiny splash of milk or water to loosen it back up!

Storage Method	Container Type	Duration
Refrigeration	Airtight Container	3–4 Days
Freezing	Freezer-Safe Container	Up to 2 Months (Texture may change)

Frequently Asked Questions About This Recipe

I get so many questions about this dish because everyone loves how easy it is! It’s become my go-to answer for when someone asks me for a truly simple chicken recipe that tastes amazing. Here are a few things people ask me most often when they are planning their next weeknight meal.

Can I Use Different Vegetables in This Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner?

Yes, absolutely! This recipe is so forgiving. As long as you keep the vegetable bulk similar so you don’t overload the pan, you can swap things out. Cauliflower works wonderfully in place of broccoli, or you could try some sliced mushrooms or even zucchini. Just remember that softer veggies, like zucchini, will need less cooking time than the broccoli, so add them in later so they don’t turn to mush! Keep that one-pan structure, though!

How Do I Know When the Chicken is Fully Cooked?

This is the most important question for any home cook! You absolutely must use a meat thermometer when cooking chicken, especially when you’re moving fast on a busy weeknight. Chicken is perfectly cooked and safe to eat only when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s 74 degrees Celsius). Check a few of the thickest pieces to be sure. If it hits that mark, you’re good to go!

Understanding the Estimated Nutrition for This Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner

I always try to keep an eye on what we’re eating, even when I’m whipping up something fast like this one-pan dinner. Since this recipe is packed with protein from the chicken and cheese, it’s surprisingly satisfying! But remember, these numbers are just estimates based on the ingredients listed above. Your exact amounts of salt, oil, and cheese will change the final tally, so take these as a general guide for planning your meals.

It’s great knowing that for a quick weeknight meal, we’re getting a solid amount of protein without loading up too heavily on carbs. Here’s a quick look at what you can expect per serving (this recipe yields 4 servings):

Nutrient	Estimate Per Serving
Calories	420
Protein	34g
Fat	28g
Carbohydrates	9g

Keep in mind that because we are using cream cheese and mozzarella, the fat content is higher, but that’s what makes this Garlic Chicken with Broccoli One Pan Dinner so incredibly creamy and delicious! If you are tracking sodium or sugar closely, you might want to use low-sodium cream cheese or reduce the added salt slightly. Enjoy every bite!

If you love quick, easy meals like this, you can find more inspiration on my Pinterest page!

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