• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Lynn's Way of Life
  • CCPA Notice
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Disclosure Policy
  • Meet Lynn
  • Privacy Policy
  • Recipe Index
  • Recipes
  • Seasonal Recipes for the Whole Family
  • Spring Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • Supplemental Privacy Policy for Nevada Residents
  • Web Stories
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Spring
  • Recipes
  • Meet Lynn
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Spring
    • Recipes
    • Meet Lynn
    • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Recipes » One Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta

    One Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta

    Published: Aug 19, 2021 by Lynn Polito · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

    Sharing is caring!

    44 shares
    • Facebook7
    • Twitter

    On busy weeknights, no one wants to be doing a ton of dishes! One Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta to the rescue! Lean chicken breast, healthy broccoli, fiber filled whole wheat pasta, and extra cheese makes this dinner satisfying and a family favorite!

    Some of the one pot chicken broccoli pasta is on a fork laying on the plate.

    We all have busy lives these days, especially as our kids get older. As much as I love a slow cooked dinner that is simmered for hours, sometimes you just need to get a delicious and healthy dinner on the table that will satisfy everyone's tummies.

    Why You Should Make This

    • One pot! No slaving over the sink to clean tons of dishes or pots and pans. Everything goes in one pan, simmers, and you're done!
    • No waiting for the pasta water to boil. The pasta is cooked completely in the chicken broth and soaks up all the liquid to make a creamy sauce.
    • It's loaded with healthy ingredients. I'm always trying to get my kids to eat healthy things, and I've found that adding cheese to anything will get them to eat it, even broccoli!

    Please do not cook the pasta before you put it into the sauce to simmer. You'll have way overcooked pasta. The uncooked pasta will soak up the chicken broth, and if it's already cooked, you'll just have a soup.

    INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED

    • Chicken broth- I used homemade here, but boxed chicken broth is perfect too. Get the low sodium chicken broth so you can control the amount of salt that goes into the dish.
    • Broccoli- Two heads of broccoli is enough for this recipe, but if you love broccoli feel free to add more.
    • Chicken Breast- One large chicken breast, or two medium chicken breasts. You'll need about 1 pound, or 2 cups chopped.
    • Dry Mustard- Seems weird right? But trust me, it's necessary! It gives the dish a depth of flavor and works perfectly with the cheese.
    • Heavy Cream- Adds to the creaminess of the sauce.
    • Cheddar- Colby or white cheddar can be used instead of yellow cheddar. If you want to make it spicy, try Monterey jack too!
    • Pasta- Whole wheat pasta is a great way to get some extra fiber into your family's diet.
    Ingredients for the one pot chicken broccoli pasta

    Step by step photos

    • the chicken is chopped up and being sautéed in the pan
      Sauté the chicken and olive oil
    • The chicken broth, heavy cream, and dry mustard are added to the pan.
      Add the chicken broth, cream, and dry mustard to the pan
    • The pasta is added to the pot.
      Add the pasta to the pan
    • The pot of the one pot broccoli chicken pasta
      Cover for 5 minutes
    • The broccoli is added to the pot
      Add the broccoli and cover again for 4 minutes
    • The cheddar is added to the pot with the broccoli, chicken, and pasta
      Add the cheddar to the pasta
    • The one pot broccoli chicken pasta is stirred to combine.
      Allow the cheddar to melt and serve

    How To Make One Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta From Scratch

    1. Wash the heads of broccoli and chop them into bite sized pieces. Set that aside.
    2. Cut the chicken breast into bite sized pieces. Add the chicken to the pan with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Sauté for five minutes until the chicken is browned. The chicken is going to cook for another 8-10 minutes when you put in the pasta, so be careful not to overcook it at this point.
    3. Once the chicken is cooked, add the chicken broth, heavy cream, and dry mustard. Season with salt and pepper again and stir to combine.
    4. Add the pasta to the pan and try to get as much of the pasta submerged as possible. Turn the heat to medium and cover for 5 minutes.
    5. After five minutes, add the chopped broccoli to the pan and cover again for four minutes or until the pasta is al dente.
    6. After four minutes, add the cheddar, salt, and pepper to the mixture and stir until the cheese is completely melted. Top with more cheddar if you would like and serve immediately.

    What type of pan should I use?

    You'll want to use a pan that is at least 2 inches high, and has a tight fitting lid. A Dutch oven or a nonstick pasta pot would work here as well. Just make sure that it has a tight fitting lid and will be high enough to hold a pound of pasta plus all the broccoli.

    Can I use other types of pasta?

    Sure! There are some people who aren't a fan of whole wheat pasta and that's ok! Regular pasta would work, as would gluten free or even chickpea pasta. Just check the package to make sure the pasta will be ready in 7-9 minutes. You might need to adjust the time based on the pasta.

    Spaghetti, farfalle, and rotini are all great shapes to use. If you choose to use spaghetti, just make sure you have enough room in your pan for the spaghetti to cook.

    What other veggies could I use?

    Not a broccoli fan? Try cauliflower! You can sauté mushrooms, zucchini, yellow squash, or bell peppers to add to this recipe instead. If you want to add a leafy green like spinach, I would add it at the end when you are adding the cheese so the residual heat will wilt the spinach.

    Two plates of the pasta with a glass of wine.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use frozen broccoli?

    Yes! If you don't have fresh broccoli on hand or prefer frozen broccoli that would work in this recipe as well.

    What do I do with leftovers?

    If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can even freeze leftovers if you have any. When you are ready to defrost the leftovers, simply place them in your refrigerator until they are defrosted and them microwave them for 2-3 minutes. You can also reheat them in a pan with a little bit of chicken broth to heat them through.

    Can I make this vegetarian?

    Sure! Just use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and leave out the chicken. Bump up the veggies by adding a few cups of cauliflower too for some extra nutrition.

    An overhead shot of the one pot chicken broccoli pasta

    More Recipes You Might Enjoy:

    Did you give these One Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta a try? I’d love to hear from you! Give me a shout on Instagram or Facebook  and share this recipe on Pinterest! And don't forget to check out some other drool worthy recipes below! Thanks for sharing this journey with me and enjoy these delicious recipes!

    • Chicken and Bacon Caesar Pasta Salad
    • Taco Stuffed Peppers
    • Nutella Zucchini Bread
    • Quinoa Stuffed Zucchini
    • Baked Sourdough Donuts
    • Instant Pot Peach Jam
    • Light and Crisp Sourdough Waffles

    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn small commission from qualifying purchases, however this is at no cost to you.

    More Dinner Recipes

    • An overhead shot of the Instant Pot Shrimp Scamp in a bowl
      Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi Recipe
    • A bowl of Instant Pot Rigatoni is in front of the Instant Pot.
      Easy Instant Pot Rigatoni Bolognese
    • The napkin is behind the Instant Pot Cabbage Rolls Soup
      Instant Pot Cabbage Roll Soup
    • A fork is on the plate under the Instant Pot Bourbon chicken in a bowl.
      Easy Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken
    Some of the one pot chicken broccoli pasta is on a fork laying on the plate.

    One Pot Chicken Broccoli Pasta

    Lean chicken breast, healthy broccoli, fiber filled whole wheat pasta, and extra cheese makes this dinner satisfying and a family favorite!
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Servings: 8 Servings
    Calories: 489kcal
    Author: Lynn Polito

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb Chicken Breast 2 cups chopped
    • 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 3 ½ cups Chicken Broth Low Sodium
    • 3 cups Chopped Broccoli 2 heads
    • ½ cup Heavy Cream
    • 1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
    • 1 lb Pasta Any variety
    • 2 cups Shredded Cheddar
    • Salt and Pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Wash the broccoli and chop it into bite sized pieces. Set that aside.
    • In a large pan that has a fitted lid, add the olive oil and chopped chicken breast. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes until the chicken breasts pieces are browned.
    • Add the chicken broth, heavy cream, and dry mustard to the pan. Stir everything to combine and season again with salt and pepper.
    • Add the pasta to the pan, lower the heat to medium, and stir so most of the pasta is submerged. Cover for five minutes.
    • After five minutes, add the broccoli to the pan and cover again for four more minutes.
    • Add the cheddar to the pan and stir until the cheddar is completely melted. Top with more cheddar if you would like and serve immediately.

    Notes

    • Frozen broccoli can be substituted for fresh broccoli
    • Do not overcook the chicken when you are sautéing it.  It will cook for another 10 minutes when the pasta is cooking.
    • If you don't have heavy cream, whole milk can be substituted, or you can leave it out and increase the amount of chicken broth.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 489kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 638mg | Potassium: 567mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 733IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 251mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @LynnsWayofLife or tag #lynnswayoflife!
    « Baked Sourdough Donuts (3 Ways!)
    Spinach and Feta Egg Cups »

    Sharing is caring!

    44 shares
    • Facebook7
    • Twitter

    Subscribe

    for your weekly recipe fix.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hey there! I'm Lynn and I'm based just outside of Boston. I'm a wife and mom of two with a passion for cooking and creating homemade food for my family.

    Whether it's creating new recipes, or exploring tried and true classics, I am constantly trying to show that homemade doesn't have to be hard

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • Pinterest

    People are Loving!

    • A piece of the stack of pancakes with self-rising flour is on a fork.
      Fluffy Pancakes {With Self-Rising Flour!}
    • The banana bread with self rising flour is cut into slices and is on a cutting board.
      Banana Bread Recipe with Self-Rising Flour
    • An overhead shot of the Instant Pot Shrimp Scamp in a bowl
      Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi Recipe
    • A fork and knife are cutting into the waffle.
      Waffles With Self Rising Flour
    • The sourdough pretzel bites are on a tray with mustard
      Sourdough Pretzel Bites
    • An overhead shot of the muffins in a muffin tin.
      Easy Banana Oatmeal Muffins

    Spring Favs!

    • A lemon cheesecake bar is on a glass plate with lemons in the background
      Easy Lemon Cheesecake Bars Recipe
    • A portion of the french toast blueberry casserole is on a fluted plate.
      Blueberry French Toast Casserole
    • An overhead shot of the blueberry muffins with sour cream.
      Blueberry Lemon Muffins with Sour Cream
    • Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns are best served with tea or coffee
      Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns
    • A piece of the instant pot carrot cake is cut out
      Instant Pot Carrot Cake (with Cream Cheese Frosting)
    • A close up of one of the Instant Pot Creme Brulee pots.
      Instant Pot Crème Brulee

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • What is Lynn's Way of Life

    Let's Connect!

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Cookie Policy

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Lynn's Way of Life