Creamy One-Pot Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli
A quick and easy one-pot chicken Alfredo with broccoli that combines creamy, cheesy sauce with tender chicken and fresh broccoli for a comforting weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- 8 ounces fettuccine or linguine pasta, broken in half
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Prep the Ingredients (10 minutes): Trim and dice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Cut the broccoli into small florets. Mince the garlic finely. Have your broth, cream, and cheese ready to go.
- Sear the Chicken (5-7 minutes): Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in your pot. Add the chicken pieces, season with salt and pepper, and cook until golden brown but not fully cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside; leave any browned bits in the pot.
- Sauté Garlic (1-2 minutes): Lower heat to medium, add butter, and once melted, stir in minced garlic. Cook until fragrant but not browned—about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Add Liquids and Pasta (2 minutes): Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Add the broken pasta pieces, making sure they’re submerged as much as possible.
- Simmer and Stir (10-12 minutes): Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Stir frequently to prevent pasta sticking. Let the pasta cook until almost tender (al dente).
- Add Broccoli and Chicken (5-7 minutes): Nestle broccoli florets and the partially cooked chicken back into the pot. Cover and cook until broccoli is bright green and tender, and chicken is cooked through.
- Finish the Sauce (3-5 minutes): Stir in softened cream cheese and freshly grated Parmesan. Mix well until the sauce is creamy and coats the pasta. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve Warm: Plate immediately, maybe with an extra sprinkle of Parmesan and a crack of black pepper.
Notes
If sauce is too thick, add a splash of broth or cream to loosen it. If too thin, simmer uncovered for a minute or two to reduce. Use room temperature cream cheese for smooth melting. Frequent stirring prevents pasta from sticking. For gluten-free, swap pasta with gluten-free fettuccine or spiralized zucchini. For dairy-free, use coconut cream and nutritional yeast instead of cream and Parmesan.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 of the rec
- Calories: 575
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 700
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 40
Keywords: one-pot, chicken Alfredo, broccoli, creamy pasta, easy dinner, weeknight meal, comfort food