One Pot Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta

This easy One Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta is ready in less than 20 minutes, all cooks in one single pot, and tastes like an indulgent creamy restaurant pasta dish. It's easy, it's light, and it will be a family favorite.

This recipe couldn't be any easier and the results are scrumptious! Try this one-pot creamy chicken broccoli pasta when you need dinner on the table in under 30 minutes. It’s so creamy and hearty that it’ll become your family’s new favorite.

Confession time: I’m becoming just a little bit obsessed with one-pot pasta dishes (I made this one-pot caprese pasta last week!). I’m too busy to dirty up - and wash - multiple pots and pans for one meal.

So that means that any meal that only produces one dirty dish is my kind of meal. Especially when it’s a creamy parmesan pasta dish packed with chicken, broccoli, and plenty of garlic.

Yum oh yum!

This chicken and broccoli pasta recipe tastes just like a simple chicken alfredo that’s perfect for an everyday dinner. It’s ready and on the table in under 30 minutes and makes such an easy and delicious dinner that your family will beg you to make it again and again.

Key Ingredients For One-Pot Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta

These are the ingredients you need to make this one-pot pasta dish at home:

• Chicken Breast: The chicken provides the protein in this dish. I went with boneless skinless chicken breasts to make prep time go faster.
• Pasta: For this recipe, I decided to cook up some high fiber pasta. Using this kind of pasta provides more nutrients and makes for a heartier dish with fewer “empty” calories.
• Chicken Broth: Using chicken broth instead of water infuses this dish with even more flavor than water would.
• Skim Milk: Using skim milk instead of whole milk not only lessens the amount of fat in this dish but also provides that creamy texture that you crave.
• Broccoli Florets: High in fiber and nutrients, this green vegetable tastes amazing when combined with the other ingredients.
• Garlic: I love to add garlic to everything and this pasta dish is no different! The garlic gives this whole recipe a nice boost in flavor.
• Parmesan Cheese: What's pasta without some cheese? Parmesan cheese provides the cheesy flavor that brings it all together.

Note: For a full list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make this creamy parmesan pasta recipe with chicken and broccoli, take a look at the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Recipe Tips And Ideas For Broccoli Chicken Pasta

Follow these tips to make sure that this pasta comes out delicious every single time.

• When adding the chicken breasts to the pot, I recommend chopping it up into bite sized pieces so that it can cook faster and more evenly with the rest of the ingredients.
• For this recipe, you can use fresh or frozen broccoli. Just be mindful that when using frozen broccoli, your dish might be a little bit more watered down. But, it's still delicious! (A little more on that down below)
• To make it spicy, add a few dashes of hot red pepper flakes to give this creamy chicken pasta a nice kick of heat.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parmesan Chicken Pasta With Broccoli

I’m sure you have at least one of these questions swirling around your brain. Here are the answers!

What makes the pasta taste so good?

The secret of this dish is cooking the pasta in a mixture of milk and chicken broth.

The milk, broth, and starch in the pasta combine to create a creamy, rich sauce right in the pot. The liquid keeps the chicken nice and moist and that's really all there is to it.

It's so easy and so good!

Can I use cooked chicken?

Yes, absolutely. If you have some leftover rotisserie or grilled chicken, it will taste amazing in this recipe - and save you a little preparation time too!

When using chicken that’s already been cooked, all you need to do is add the chicken towards the end of the cooking time so it can heat up and absorb some of that flavor from the creamy parmesan sauce before serving.

Can I use frozen broccoli?

Short answer: Yes, you can. However, frozen broccoli tends to be pretty watery when it’s thawed, so I prefer to use fresh broccoli florets in this recipe.

If you only have frozen broccoli, thaw it and drain as much water out as possible before adding it to the recipe.

How long will this creamy chicken pasta last in the fridge?

If you have any leftovers or make double the recipe to have some prepped for the rest of the week, make sure to store the pasta in an airtight container in the fridge. This should last up to 5 days.

What is the best way to reheat this pasta dish?

Because cream-based sauces can separate and get oily when you microwave them, I prefer to reheat this dish (and others like it) in a saucepan on the stove. This slow reheating process helps the sauce not separate and also allows you to stir it frequently to help prevent the pasta to dry out.

Can I freeze chicken broccoli pasta?

I’m not a big fan of freezing dairy-based sauces because they tend to separate when you thaw them.

However, if you like to make and prepare things ahead of time, you can freeze this recipe with some adjustments.

1. Cook the pasta, chicken, and broccoli alone.
2. Then, simply allow it to cool after cooking then put it in an air-tight, freezer-safe container. You can freeze it for up to 3 months.
3. When you want to cook it, thaw it out at room temperature and then reheat it in a saucepan on medium heat and stir frequently. Add in the rest of the ingredients to make the parmesan sauce and stir everything to combine.
4. Serve and enjoy!