• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
  • Contact Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Dinner at the Zoo

  • All Recipes
  • Dinner
  • Appetizers
  • Dessert
  • One Pot Meals
  • Slow Cooker
  • Asian Food

Home » Dinner » Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

Published: May 26, 2021 Last Modified: May 26, 2021 By Sara 14 Comments

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
This chicken broccoli Alfredo pasta is sauteed chicken breast pieces and fresh broccoli, all tossed in a homemade creamy sauce.

This chicken broccoli Alfredo pasta is sauteed chicken breast pieces and fresh broccoli, all tossed in a homemade creamy sauce. A quick and easy dinner option that’s always a big hit with both kids and adults.

When I need dinner on the table fast, I often turn to pasta dishes such as chicken pesto pasta, pasta bolognese and this chicken and broccoli Alfredo.

This chicken broccoli Alfredo pasta is sauteed chicken breast pieces and fresh broccoli, all tossed in a homemade creamy sauce. This chicken broccoli Alfredo pasta is sauteed chicken breast pieces and fresh broccoli, all tossed in a homemade creamy sauce.

A pan of chicken broccoli Alfredo pasta with a serving spoon in it.

You can never go wrong with pasta for dinner, especially when it’s chicken broccoli Alfredo pasta! This dish is loaded with flavor, and can be customized in so many ways to fit your tastes.

How do you make chicken broccoli alfredo?

Cook the pasta in salted boiling water, then add the broccoli florets during the last few minutes of the cook time. While the pasta is cooking, saute pieces of chicken with garlic and Italian seasoning. Remove the chicken from the pan, then make the sauce by simmering butter with heavy cream and parmesan cheese. Toss the pasta, chicken and broccoli with the sauce. Sprinkle with parsley, then serve and enjoy.

Bowls of ingredients including pasta, chicken, broccoli, butter and cheese.

Tips for the perfect pasta

  • I use boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken tenders, but chicken thighs will also work just fine.
  • This dish is best when served immediately, as the pasta will absorb the sauce as it sits. Leftovers will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Use freshly grated parmesan cheese if possible; it has a lot more flavor than the pre-shredded variety and melts smoothly.
  • Be sure to cook your sauce over low heat. Never let it come to a boil or it could separate.
  • I think this dish tastes best with fresh broccoli, but it will work with frozen broccoli in a pinch. If you’re using frozen broccoli, add it to the pasta pot during the final minute of the cooking time.

Cooked diced chicken in a skillet.

How do you make alfredo sauce?

The sauce for this dish is surprisingly simple to prepare. The cream needs to simmer with butter until the mixture gets thick. Stir in parmesan cheese, along with salt and pepper for a basic, yet flavorful Alfredo sauce. You can always add other flavorings if you prefer. Love a lot of sauce on your pasta? Feel free to double that part of the recipe.

Chicken, pasta and broccoli in a pan of cream sauce.

Chicken broccoli alfredo flavor variations

The great thing about this dish is that you can change up the protein and vegetables to make your own creations depending on what you have on hand.

  • Protein: Swap out the chicken for cooked ground turkey, shrimp, meatballs or diced ham.
  • Vegetables: Instead of broccoli, try a different veggie such as spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, asparagus or diced tomatoes.
  • Flavorings: Amp up the flavor by stirring in some olives, capers, sun dried tomatoes, shredded mozzarella cheese or pine nuts.
  • Pasta: While this recipe calls for rotini pasta, other types of noodles will work such as penne, rigatoni, fettuccine or fusilli.

Chicken broccoli Alfredo pasta served with salad.

Once you try this dish, you’ll find yourself making it on a regular basis. It’s just that good!

More pasta dishes to try

  • Buffalo Chicken Pasta
  • Pasta al Forno
  • Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic and Herbs
  • Pasta Puttanesca
  • Tuscan Farfalle Pasta

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Video

A pan of chicken broccoli Alfredo pasta with a serving spoon in it.
Print Pin
5 from 12 votes

Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

This chicken broccoli Alfredo pasta is sauteed chicken breast pieces and fresh broccoli, all tossed in a homemade creamy sauce. A quick and easy dinner option that's always a big hit with both kids and adults.
Course Main
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 686kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces rotini pasta
  • 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets
  • 6 tablespoons butter divided use
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • salt and pepper to tastee
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta in salted water according to package directions. Add the broccoli during the last 3 minutes of the cooking time.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large pan over medium high heat. 
  • Add the chicken to the pan and season with salt and pepper. 
  • Cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is browned and cooked through.
  • Add the garlic and Italian seasoning to the pan and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
  • Remove the chicken from the pan and cover to keep warm. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel.
  • Melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium low heat. 
  • Add the cream and simmer for 4-5 minutes or until just thickened - do not let it boil.
  • Whisk in the parmesan cheese, stirring continuously, until cheese has melted. 
  • Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Place the pasta, broccoli and chicken in the pan with the sauce. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 686kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 32g | Cholesterol: 232mg | Sodium: 626mg | Potassium: 758mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2011IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 316mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @DinnerAtTheZoo or tag #dinneratthezoo!
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Dinner, Pasta

FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

    ​
    ​

    Still hungry? Follow Dinner at the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more great recipe ideas!

    « Charro Beans Recipe
    Black Bean and Corn Salsa »

    Comments

    1. Kayla says

      August 31, 2022 at 1:04 pm

      Can I substitute whole milk for the heavy cream?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 1, 2022 at 9:01 am

        I think that should be fine but I haven’t tested the recipe this way myself.

        Reply
    2. Cindy says

      December 9, 2021 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      Quick easy complete dinner that everyone in my family loved!

      Reply
    3. Meg says

      June 2, 2021 at 8:27 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious!! I made some extra sauce just bc I love sauce so much:) it’s a wonderful recipe my whole family loved, thank you

      Reply
    4. Lima Ekram says

      June 2, 2021 at 1:38 pm

      5 stars
      I just made it and it was wonderful! The whole family loved it!

      Reply
    5. Jac says

      June 2, 2021 at 1:01 pm

      5 stars
      Pasta and broccoli my kids favourite combo. They loved this recipe. Thanks 🙂

      Reply
    6. Erin says

      June 2, 2021 at 12:59 pm

      5 stars
      My boys love anything with alfredo, so this recipe is great, plus it gets them eating their vegetables.

      Reply
    7. Bintu says

      June 2, 2021 at 12:28 pm

      5 stars
      Such a quick and easy dinner that my kids love! So delicious that this is definitely going in our dinner rotation!

      Reply
    8. maryanne says

      June 2, 2021 at 12:20 pm

      5 stars
      I substituted bow-tie pasta, and it was a huge hit with me and my husband! I can’t wait to make this again!

      Reply
    9. Kate says

      June 2, 2021 at 12:00 am

      5 stars
      Such a great pasta supper packed with lovely flavours – my kids loved this so much, thanks for a great recipe!

      Reply
    10. Anjali says

      June 1, 2021 at 10:20 pm

      5 stars
      This pasta recipe was a hit with my family! I loved your recipe for that simple alfredo sauce too – it was easy to make and mistake-proof (which not all cream sauces are!)

      Reply
    11. Chenée says

      June 1, 2021 at 10:11 pm

      5 stars
      This is always a hit with my family! So easy to make and perfect for a weeknight dinner.

      Reply
    12. Beth says

      June 1, 2021 at 8:40 pm

      5 stars
      This dish is so delicious and perfect for dinner. My family and I loved this for dinner the other night. Big hit here and quick! Will be making this recipe again!

      Reply
    13. Tawnie Kroll says

      June 1, 2021 at 8:35 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe was amazing and so easy to make! Family favorite!!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating





    With 3 young kids, dinner can feel like feeding time at the zoo! I'm a mom on a mission to create easy, healthy and family friendly recipes ...Read More

    Winter Soups

    Turkey soup with egg noodles and colorful vegetables in a pot.

    Turkey Soup Recipe

    A pot full of beef barley soup made with beef stew meat, barley and vegetables all simmered together.

    Beef Barley Soup

    A bowl of Instant Pot chili topped with sour cream, cheese and green onions.

    Instant Pot Chili

    A pot of cabbage soup with carrots, celery, bell peppers and green beans.

    Cabbage Soup

    A bowl of chicken enchilada soup topped with tortilla strips, sour cream and cilantro.

    Chicken Enchilada Soup

    A bowl of taco soup topped with tortilla strips, sour cream, cheese and avocado.

    Taco Soup Recipe

    More Posts from this Category

    Featured Recipes

    A roasted chicken in a pan garnished with fresh rosemary sprigs.

    Roasted Chicken with Garlic and Herbs

    A piece of bread scooping into a pan of spinach dip.

    Hot Spinach Dip

    Instant Pot pot roast with carrots and potatoes, all topped with parsley.

    Instant Pot Pot Roast

    This recipe for shrimp pesto pasta is spaghetti tossed in a flavorful pesto sauce, then topped with sauteed shrimp and tomatoes. A fresh and easy dinner that's quick to make and packed with flavor!

    Shrimp Pesto Pasta

    FREE TOOLKIT: 5 Secrets to Meal Planning

    Learn my 5 Meal Planning Secrets & get my Meal Planning Toolkit...FREE!

      ​
      ​

      Categories

      Sites I am featured In
      PRIVACY POLICY ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT © Sara Welch and Dinner at the Zoo® LLC, 2015-2022.
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • RSS
      • Twitter
      • About Me
      • Contact Me
      • All Recipes
      • Dinner
      • Appetizers
      • Dessert
      • One Pot Meals
      • Slow Cooker
      • Asian Food