Amazing 1-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner

One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner is here, and trust me, this is the recipe that saved my sanity on busy Tuesdays! Hi, I’m Anna, and I absolutely adore finding simple, flavorful chicken recipes that actually make everyday cooking easier and, dare I say, more joyful. I’ve spent years cooking for my own family, juggling work and the dinner rush, so I know firsthand that when you say you need an easy weeknight meal, you mean it.

This creamy chicken and broccoli pasta is my go-to solution because it delivers incredible flavor with almost no cleanup—everything cooks right in that big pot! We’re talking tender chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and bright green broccoli all swimming in a velvety sauce. It comes together so fast, usually in under 30 minutes. Plus, we’re always being careful in the kitchen, so I’ll remind you every time: make sure that chicken hits that safe 165 degrees Fahrenheit internal temperature before we move on to the great creamy finale!

Why You Will Love This One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner

When life gets hectic, you need a dinner that works hard for you, not the other way around. This recipe is designed specifically for those nights where you need maximum flavor payoff for minimal effort. You’re going to want to bookmark this because it truly simplifies your routine.

• It’s the ultimate One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner, meaning cleanup is a dream—just one pot to scrub!
• It’s incredibly fast, clocking in at under 30 minutes from start to finish.
• It tastes like you spent hours making a complex dish, even though you didn’t.

Speed and Simplicity for Busy Cooks

Seriously, the clock stops at 28 minutes total time! That’s faster than most takeout nowadays. Because everything cooks in one vessel, you aren’t juggling multiple pans on the stovetop. You brown the chicken, use the same hot oil to start building the liquid base, and then everything cooks together. It’s efficient cooking at its best. If you enjoy quick meals, you might also like this red curry chicken in 30 minutes.

Creamy Texture Without the Fuss

Who doesn’t love creamy pasta? The best part is you don’t need a separate roux or a huge amount of heavy cream here. We achieve that luxurious, velvety sauce right in the pot using just a little milk, some Parmesan, and a touch of cream cheese stirred in at the very end. It melts down beautifully, coating every piece of pasta and broccoli perfectly.

Assembling Your One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner Ingredients

Okay, let’s talk about what you need to pull off this amazing One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner. The beauty of this recipe is that it uses simple pantry staples, but the way we combine them is what makes the magic happen. I always keep low-sodium broth on hand because it gives me control over the final salt level, which is super important when you’re adding Parmesan later.

Don’t stress about running to the store for obscure items; you probably have most of this already! When you look at the list below, just focus on prepping your chicken right. Getting those pieces uniform makes sure they cook evenly before we even think about making the sauce.

Essential Components for Your One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner

This list covers everything needed for four satisfying servings. When you see chicken breasts listed, I need you to chop those into nice, even 1-inch cubes. This consistency is key for quick, even searing! We’re relying on these core components to build our flavor foundation for the One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner.

Take a look below for the exact amounts. Remember, exact measurement matters here, especially with the pasta and the liquids! If you are looking for more chicken inspiration, check out this baked barbecue chicken recipe.

Ingredient	Amount
Olive oil	1 tablespoon
Boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes	1 pound
Salt divided	\u00bd teaspoon
Black pepper divided	\u00bc teaspoon
Low-sodium chicken broth	3 cups
Water	2 cups
Penne or rotini pasta	12 ounces
Small broccoli florets	3 cups
Milk	\u00be cup
Grated Parmesan cheese	\u2153 cup
Light cream cheese	2 tablespoons
Garlic powder	\u00bd teaspoon

Ingredient Preparation and Clarity

A couple of quick notes before we start cooking! For the chicken, make sure you season it right before it hits the hot oil—this helps build that nice brown crust we want. As for the broccoli, aim for small, uniform florets. If they are too big, they won’t cook properly in those last few minutes, and we want them bright green and tender-crisp, not mushy!

Also, I highly recommend using low-sodium chicken broth. Since we are reducing the liquid down and adding salty cheese later, starting with low-sodium gives you way more control over the final taste of your One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner. Trust me on this one; nobody wants an overly salty dinner!

Equipment Needed for Perfect One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner

We’re keeping the equipment list short because that’s the whole point of this meal! You don’t need a dozen pots and pans cluttering up your counter. A few simple tools are all it takes to make this satisfying One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner.

Choosing the Right Cooking Vessel

The most crucial piece of equipment here is your pot. You absolutely must use a large Dutch oven or a really deep, heavy-bottomed skillet. Why deep? Because we are boiling pasta, cooking chicken, and then simmering the sauce all in that one space. If your pot is too shallow, you’ll end up with boil-overs or sauce that reduces way too fast. Make sure it’s big enough to comfortably hold the broth, water, and 12 ounces of dry pasta!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Your One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner

Now for the fun part—putting it all together! Since this is a One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner, the order of operations is everything. Follow these steps closely, and you’ll have a perfect meal ready before you know it. Keep your ingredients prepped and near the stove so you can move quickly!

Cooking the Chicken to Perfection

First things first, get your pot hot! Heat that tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in your Dutch oven. While it’s warming up, take your cubed chicken and season it really well with half of your salt and pepper. Don’t be shy; we need that flavor locked in!

Add the seasoned chicken to the hot oil. Let it cook for about 5 to 6 minutes, turning it occasionally so it browns nicely on all sides and is cooked all the way through. This is super important for safety! Use your instant-read thermometer to check that the thickest piece reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius). Once it’s done, pull that chicken out of the pot, set it aside in a clean bowl, and cover it up so it stays warm while we cook the pasta.

Building the Pasta Base

Don’t clean that pot! We want all those yummy browned bits left over from the chicken. Pour in your 3 cups of low-sodium chicken broth and 2 cups of water. Crank the heat up and bring that liquid right to a rolling boil. Once it’s bubbling hard, toss in your 12 ounces of penne or rotini pasta. If you like pasta dishes, you should see our garlic parmesan chicken pasta recipe.

Immediately reduce the heat down to medium. We are going to cook this uncovered, stirring every minute or so to make sure the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Keep cooking for about 8 to 9 minutes. You want the pasta almost tender—just shy of fully cooked.

Introducing the Broccoli and Finishing the Cook

When the pasta is nearly ready, it’s time for the green stuff! Add your 3 cups of small broccoli florets right into the pot with the pasta and liquid. Stir them in and let everything simmer together for about 3 more minutes. This short time keeps the broccoli bright green and tender-crisp, which is exactly the texture we want in our One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner.

Creating the Creamy Sauce in One Pot

Now, turn that heat way down to low—this is key so the milk doesn’t scorch. Whisk in the 3/4 cup of milk, the 1/3 cup of grated Parmesan, the 2 tablespoons of light cream cheese, the garlic powder, and the rest of your salt and pepper. Keep stirring gently until that cream cheese melts completely and the Parmesan dissolves. The sauce will start looking rich and velvety right before your eyes!

Combining and Serving Your One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner

The final step for your amazing One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner is bringing back the protein. Return the cooked chicken and any juices that collected in the bowl back into the pot. Stir everything together gently until that chicken is completely coated in the creamy sauce. Let it simmer for just 2 more minutes to make sure the chicken heats through. Serve this up immediately while it’s hot and luscious! For more easy weeknight ideas, check out our light creamy chicken dinner.

Tips for Success with Your Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

Even though this is a super simple One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner, a couple of little tricks can take it from good to absolutely stellar. I’ve learned these lessons over many weeknights, trying to salvage a sauce that got a little too thick or chicken that cooked too fast. Pay attention to the final stage!

Achieving the Right Sauce Consistency

If you find that your sauce is just too thick once you add the milk and cheese—maybe your heat was a little high, or your pasta absorbed more liquid than expected—don’t panic! This is why we keep the heat low for the final step. Just stir in an extra splash or two of chicken broth or even plain milk, a tablespoon at a time, until you get that perfect, dreamy coating consistency. It should flow nicely, not clump up.

Ensuring Chicken Safety and Tenderness

I can’t stress this enough: always use that meat thermometer when cooking the chicken at the beginning! We are aiming for 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) internal temperature. If you cook it longer than that initially, it will be dry and chewy by the time you serve the finished One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner. Pull it out right when it hits that safe mark, and it will finish warming up perfectly when you return it to the sauce at the end. If you want to see more chicken recipes, follow us on Pinterest!

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Leftover One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner

If you manage to have leftovers of this incredible One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner—which is rare in my house!—storing it correctly is key to keeping that creamy texture intact. You want to enjoy this easy weeknight meal again later, right?

Keeping Your One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner Fresh

Once the pasta has cooled down slightly, transfer your leftovers into airtight containers. I usually use smaller containers so the portions are perfect for lunch the next day. You can safely keep this creamy pasta in the refrigerator for up to three or four days. Remember that pasta absorbs liquid as it sits, so it will be much thicker the next day. Don’t worry about that; we fix it easily when reheating!

Common Questions About This One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner

I get so many lovely messages after people try this recipe, and usually, the questions are all about flexibility! It’s great that you want to adapt it to fit your needs. This One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner is built on a simple foundation, so making small swaps is totally doable. Here are a few things folks ask me most often when trying to make this an even easier weeknight meal.

Can I use different pasta shapes in this One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner?

Absolutely! Penne and rotini are my favorites because their ridges grab the sauce so well, but feel free to use shells, farfalle, or even elbow macaroni. Just remember that cooking times will change depending on the shape and thickness. If you use smaller pasta, check it about two minutes sooner than the recipe suggests. If you use a thicker, denser shape like manicotti, you might need an extra minute or two of simmering time in the broth before the broccoli goes in. Always check for tenderness!

How to Make This Creamy Pasta Dairy-Free?

This is a common request! To keep that beautiful creamy pasta texture without dairy, you have a couple of options. For the milk, I’ve had success using plain, unsweetened oat milk; it tends to be the creamiest non-dairy choice. For the cream cheese, look for plain, unsweetened dairy-free cream cheese alternatives available in most stores now. If you can’t find a good substitute, you can try blending in 1/4 cup of silken tofu with the milk before adding it to the pot—it melts down surprisingly well and adds body!

What is the best way to reheat this easy weeknight meal?

When you reheat this, the pasta will have absorbed most of the sauce, making it look dry. Don’t just blast it in the microwave! For the best results, gently reheat leftovers in a skillet over low heat. Add a small splash—maybe a tablespoon or two—of chicken broth or milk for every serving you are reheating. Stir constantly until the liquid is absorbed and the sauce returns to its creamy consistency. It brings the whole One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner back to life!

Sharing Your One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner Experience

I truly hope this recipe simplifies a busy night for you! Cooking should be fun, not a chore, and I’m always learning new tricks from you all. If you made this amazing One-Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner, please come back and leave a rating below. I’d love to hear what substitutions you tried or any quick tips you have for making it your own!

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