Update 01/11: This meal is fantastic. It is lightly creamy with a deliciously slight zip of flavor from the lemon juice and sun-dried tomatoes. Because the pasta simmers in a flavorful broth, it plumps up with extra tastiness and the bites of tender chicken and hearty broccoli are like icing on the cake. A glorious dish, this one! I’ve made several adaptations to the recipe since originally posting it to make the overall consistency more to my liking. I’ve updated the recipe below.
Skillet Chicken Pasta with Broccoli and Sun-dried Tomatoes
Printable Version with Picture
Printable Version
*Serves 4-6
INGREDIENTS:
2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch squares
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, minced
4 medium cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
12 ounces ziti or penne pasta
3 cups water
2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4-5 cups broccoli florets
1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rinsed, drained and chopped coarse
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon cornstarch
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
DIRECTIONS:
Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until it is rippling and very hot. Add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate and set aside.
Add the remaining tablespoon of oil, onion, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the onion is softened, 2 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, oregano, and pepper flakes, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the pasta, water and broth. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is very thick and syrupy and almost completely absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes. There should still be a little bit of liquid in the bottom of the skillet but the pasta should be tender.
Add the broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes. Stir lightly to incorporate them into the pasta mixture. Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the broccoli turns bright green and is almost tender, 2-3 minutes. While the broccoli is cooking, whisk the cream and cornstarch together.
Uncover the skillet and stir in the cream, Parmesan, and reserved chicken with any accumulated juices and continue to simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is thickened and the chicken is heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, topped with extra Parmesan, if desired.
Recipe Source: adapted from The Best Skillet Recipes
{ 59 comments… read them below or add one }
Janae – I’m very glad you liked this recipe and I love the changes you made (artichokes – yum!). I also was anticipating the leftovers with this one. Glad you liked the garlic knots, too! Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
I happened to stumble across your blog and have since added it to my favorites. Thank you for single-handedly planning my meals for the next few months!
We tried this recipe last night and simply couldn’t get enough. I made a little change and added artichoke hearts instead of broccoli and sun-dried tomatos. This meal is one we are definitely making again in the very, VERY near future. In fact it’s only 9 AM and I can’t wait for lunch to finish off what was left! I also made the Garlic Knots. They also, to say the least, were amazing. Thanks again for such a wonderful blog!!!
Janae
i’ve run out of ideas on what to prepare today – you have just given me one.
Hi Melanie – I think it’s so funny I could pinpoint your location based on a recipe! we ARE in the same town. by the way, that’s my second favorite dish there, have you tried the farfalle al salmone? yum. and, i found your post about your son’s birth – such a cutie. our little ones are about 2 weeks apart I think – my girl was born on 12/31.
I cooked this tonight and it was outstanding. Thanks for posting it.
I just discovered your blog and have found so many great things to try – thanks for sharing your recipes with us! I read your post for gargonzola/pear pasta and now I’m wondering if we live in the same northern utah town and visit the same quaint restaurant?
That looks delicious and easy. I love skillet meals, not only because they are easy, but also the the mingling of flavors!
That sounds amazing! I totally agree that anything you make in one skillet and is good and easy is a total winning dish!
This dish IS awesome!!! I read the reviews, made it for dinner, and my 9 year old daughter said the same thing “It tastes like a restaurant!”
My husband was surprised that I liked it, because I’m not a fan of garlic. But it doesn’t have a strong garlic taste at all…only deliciousness!
Thanks a bunch!
Hi Melanie,Thanks for your comment on my blog, Cookie Madness. I clicked on your link and LOVE your blog already. I am always looking for good, family friendly recipes. This is one my daughter will love.
Wow! I can’t wait to try this! I think I gained 2 pounds just reading the recipe. LOL I’ll let you know how it comes out.
I made this tonight and it was fantastic! We prepared it in a large pot instead of the skillet to avoid any boilovers. I’m so glad that I found this blog. I’ve tried three recipes and they’ve all been delicious!
I saw this recipe on your blog about 2 hours ago and decided to make it for dinner tonight! I’m eating it this very second and it is FANTASTIC absolutely DELICIOUS!!! It tastes like something I’d order at the Macaroni Grill – LOVE! I didn’t add the brocoli because I’m as bad as my kids about green vegetables, and honestly I don’t think they would have fit in my skillet – lol – so it was a good thing. Otherwise, I followed the recipe exactly.YUMMY! Thank you for sharing this one!
wow!!!! melanie i am so excited about this blog…..AMAZING. i’m so glad someone is planning my meals for me. YOU ROCK. my family will appreciate this. sure hope things are going well, i’ve been thinking about you alot.jen
jm – thanks for taking the time to comment and let me know you liked this meal. I’m glad you liked it just as much as we do!
This has been starred – looks delicious!
I just found your site via Christy’s Kitchen Creations. This looks so yummy – I’m definitely going to try it out!Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca – thanks for your comment. I’m glad you liked this and that’s a great idea to use a pot in place of a skillet!
Hi there! Just stopping by to let you know that you won one of the 3 month milestone prizes on The Foodie Blogroll. We sent you an email, but haven’t heard back and wanted to make sure you knew!For more info please email: support(at)foodieblogroll.comGreat looking pasta dish!
Hey Melanie! This sounds wonderful! Just wanted to let you know that I have something for you over at my blog.
Chels – I saw your post on this dish. Your changes look great!
Perfect for a weeknight meal!
I am a lover of Cook’s Illustrated too! There is no shame in it!
THis was so delicious! I had to adapt it to our diet, but it worked and is now an addition to our regulars! yum!!!
i think the very best way for me to get my dose of broccoli is to surround it with pasta and cheese. i like what you’ve done here.
Annabeth – this is one of my favorite meals so I’m glad you liked it, too. Thanks for letting me know!
This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it either. However, it’ll be a long 4 weeks before I can. I really should just stop reading the blog for those 4 weeks…Nope can’t do it. I’m on this no-grocery-shopping-for-6-weeks thing and I don’t have heavy cream or tomatoes, hence the waiting for 4 weeks to try it. I will let you know how it goes when I do! Until then, I’ll keep reading the site just in case I have everything in one of your delectable recipes:)
I’ve heard great things about that cookbook. I’ll have to check it out. Can’t wait to try this!
My first visit here, and just made your “magic in the middle” cookies!!… Delicious! That recipe is a definite keeper!! Love them, and look forward to stopping by here OFTEN!! (0:
Jennie – how fun! I’m glad we made the connection! I haven’t tried the salmon dish at my fave restaurant but I’m glad for the recommendation, although with a new baby and other kids at home it might be a while before we get there again!
Oh goodness gracious how I adore your blog !!
Jan – yeah! I love to know when people have tried a recipe and if it is a success (and even if it is not a success!). Thanks for letting me know. I agree that it tastes like something from a restaurant. So glad you liked it!
Shirley – thanks for checking back in and letting me know you liked this! So glad it was good for you.
I love most of their dishes also. They never seem to fail. Iam so trying thisone, it looks great. Your blog is wonderful, you are just loaded with GOOD stuff!
Beansieleigh – thanks for stopping by. Glad you liked the Magic in the Middle cookies!
This was AWESOME!!!! My husband and I just made this and it was amazing! Thanks so much for sharing it. WE LOVE IT!!!
I’m totally making this! It sounds fabulous!
koby – so glad you liked this! It is definitely one of my favorites, ever!
Wow, I love this. We stumbled across it about 6 months ago and have cooked it at least 12 times
It is a huge hit with my whole family. Keep them coming, thanks!
Wow, what a great but simple recipe!!! I made this last night and it was a big hit. I posted it on my blog along with a link to yours, hope you dont mind. Thanks Again….will definately be making more from your site.
http://schmancynotfancy.blogspot.com
GGHadden – so glad you liked this! I’m on my way to check out your blog…
Made this tonight. Yum! Rachael Ray has a tuna “casserole” dish that is very similar to this and it is one of our favorites. Renaissance of Tuna Casserole. So, if you ever get bored of chicken, here is another option for you.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/renaissance-of-tuna-casserole-recipe/index.html
Bethany – glad you liked this and you won’t be surprised to know that I’ve actually made that Rachael Ray recipe and I do love it. Now I’m wondering why I’ve never posted it!
This turned out so good! Thank you so much. My whole family liked this. We’ll definitely make it again
Thanks, Marcie – I love this meal, too! I’m glad your family loved it.
All I have to say this is an all time favorite of mine! I make it often when we have friends over for dinner and they rave about it.
Kelli – then you and I are a lot alike because I always make this when people come to dinner, too!
Mmmmmm!!! This was DELISH!! Thanks
Melissa – so glad you liked this one!
Dinner tonight! Sooooo yummy! Love CI and love your site, thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Heather!
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that this is one of my very favorite dinners. It’s so, so delicious! Since my sister shared this recipe with me last fall, I’ve usually made it every other week at least. I scale down the ingredients a bit so that I end up with four servings–enough for me and my husband to have for dinner one night, and then I divide the leftovers into two containers so each of us gets one leftover serving (if he doesn’t eat his the next day I usually end up snagging it, lol). One of the best things about this meal is that it’s so easy and fast to prepare, yet it’s tasty enough to serve for friends and have it seem like a fancy, special meal. I love it. Thank you so much for sharing!
Emily – this is one of my favorite dinners, too! I’m glad you love it. I need to take a new picture next time I make it, which is often!
Yum! I was a bit skeptical, but it turned out fabulous! Def will be making this again!
Thanks, Jessica!
I have to say it is so nice to come to your site and decide what I want to make for dinner for the week. It all turns out fabulous! Made this meal last week, it was so good! Keep the recipes coming – love them!
Thanks, Sue! I love this meal and am so glad you did, too!
This is delicious! I made it for my family last night and they loved it! It is definately a keeper! I was wondering though if you have any suggestions for a lighter version? It is delicious just the way it is, but I would love to try to lower the calories.
Oh my… This is delicious, so very delicious! I made this for a get together and everyone loved it! My husband won’t stop talking about it. I may have even hoarded the leftovers for myself… Shhhhh don’t tell my husband
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