Description
A creamy and flavorful Italian-inspired dish featuring tender chicken breast, fresh broccoli florets, and fettuccine pasta tossed in a rich Parmesan cream sauce, reminiscent of Olive Garden’s classic favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 8 oz fettuccine pasta
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: Pinch of nutmeg or red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook the fettuccine pasta according to package instructions. During the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli florets to the boiling pasta water. Drain and set aside.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from skillet and slice into strips.
- In the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta, broccoli, and sliced chicken to the skillet. Toss everything together until well coated with the sauce. Serve immediately.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh broccoli florets. Frozen broccoli can be used in a pinch.
- If the sauce seems too thin, let it simmer a bit longer. If it’s too thick, add a splash more chicken broth or cream.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat gently with a splash of cream or milk to maintain creaminess.
- Feel free to substitute fettuccine with other pasta shapes like penne or spaghetti.
- Shredded rotisserie chicken can be used for a quicker preparation, though it may have less flavor.
- This dish is best served immediately but can be made ahead by keeping the sauce and pasta separate until ready to serve.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Dishes
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650 calories
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 0mg