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Chicken Broccoli Pasta

A creamy, one-pot dinner featuring tender chicken, vibrant broccoli, and perfectly cooked farfalle pasta that pleases the whole family in just 25 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 540
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Vegetables
  • 1 pound farfalle pasta
  • 1 head fresh broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets
Chicken and Sauce Base
  • 2 cups cooked shredded chicken Rotisserie chicken works well.
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
Seasoning and Cheese
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Fill a large pot with water and add a good pinch of salt. Bring it to a rolling boil over high heat.
  2. Add the farfalle pasta and stir once. Set a timer for 7 minutes and stir every couple of minutes.
  3. While the pasta cooks, rinse the broccoli and cut it into bite-sized florets.
Cooking
  1. When the 7 minutes are up, drop the broccoli into the pasta pot and cook everything together for an additional 3 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, melt butter in a separate saucepan over medium heat.
  3. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute until it forms a thick paste (roux).
  4. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking to avoid lumps.
  5. Add cream cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk until smooth and cook for about 5 minutes until thickened.
  6. Remove from heat and stir in the Gruyere and mozzarella until melted.
Final Assembly
  1. Drain the pasta and broccoli, and return them to the pot.
  2. Add the shredded chicken and stir gently to combine.
  3. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta mixture and toss until evenly coated. Taste to adjust salt and pepper if needed.
  4. Serve hot, ideally with a side salad or garlic bread.

Notes

For best results, use freshly shredded cheese to avoid graininess in the sauce. You can also boost flavor with red pepper flakes or lemon juice.