Description
A rich, silky Alfredo pasta dish with tender chicken breast, fresh broccoli, and perfectly cooked fettuccine tossed in a creamy garlic-Parmesan sauce. This quick dinner is comforting yet fresh, perfect for busy weeknights or a cozy weekend meal. With just the right balance of indulgence and veggies, it’s bound to become one of your favorite easy dinner ideas.
Ingredients
12 oz fettuccine pasta
2 large chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
2 cups fresh broccoli florets
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup chicken broth (low sodium)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine and cook until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
2. Season chicken strips with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove and keep warm.
3. In the pasta pot, blanch broccoli florets for 2 minutes, then transfer to ice water. Drain and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic for 30 seconds. Add chicken broth and heavy cream, simmer 3–4 minutes. Slowly whisk in Parmesan until smooth.
5. Add pasta, broccoli, and chicken to the sauce. Toss gently to coat, adding pasta water if needed for creaminess.
6. Garnish with parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Freshly grated Parmesan melts smoother than pre-shredded cheese.
Reserve pasta water for adjusting sauce consistency.
For extra flavor, sauté broccoli in garlic butter instead of blanching.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 540
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 17
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 36
- Cholesterol: 145
Keywords: creamy chicken broccoli alfredo pasta, easy dinner ideas, pasta recipes, chicken alfredo