This Broccoli Chicken Alfredo Skillet is a delicious, 30-minute weeknight pasta dinner made with a lighter, healthier alfredo sauce.
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What seasonings are good in broccoli chicken alfredo?
Alfredo sauce is essentially a white cheese sauce. A a result, there are some great ways to boost the flavour. For example, I use a lot of garlic for an authentic Italian taste. You could add crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick, or for some warmth without the spicy heat, add a dash a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon.
Another idea is to balance the slightly bitter flavour of broccoli by adding a squeeze of lemon juice over the top right before serving. Of course, salt and pepper will also balance the flavours.
Ingredient substitutions
- Cooking oil– Olive oil is the most common for an Italian dish like this, but honestly, any neutral flavor of cooking oil will work just fine.
- Chicken breasts– Using white meat chicken keeps the dish lower in fat and calories, but if you prefer dark meat, you can certainly use boneless skinless thigh meat.
- Milk– I like to use 2% milk – it's lighter than whole milk, but it still gives you the creaminess that skim milk won't. Plus, skim milk is non-fat, so it may curdle as well. If you need a non-dairy option, any nut milk will work.
- Heavy cream– Creating a thick, creamy sauce relies on the use of high fat ingredients. To reduce the fat a little bit without sacrificing flavour or consistency, use half and half.
- Broth or stock– Because this dish includes chicken, using chicken broth makes the most sense. Of course, vegetable broth will work as well.
- Broccoli and red bell pepper– Feel free to swap out the broccoli and/or peppers for other vegetables of your choice. Zucchini, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, and Brussels sprouts are great substitutes.
- Rotini pasta– While any pasta may be used, Alfredo sauce clings to small shapes with texture better than it does to flat noodles like spaghetti.
Side dish ideas
As with any pasta dish, you can never go wrong with a small green salad and loaf of warm French bread on the side. You could also serve broccoli chicken alfredo with an Italian soup, such as minestrone.
Using jarred Alfredo sauce
We all have crazy busy days from time to time, right? If you're just not in the mood to make sauce from scratch, use your favourite brand of jarred sauce instead. Just be aware that they are often very high in sodium and they lack flavour. Consider adding some freshly chopped parsley for a pop of color and to boost the flavour.
Secrets to a perfect light alfredo sauce
- Use a little bit of butter, and LOTS of garlic
- Go easy on the flour – you want a thick sauce, but not one that tastes like there's a filler in there
- Use a tiny bit of cream. Yes, I have listed 1/4 cup here in this recipe, however when you divide it among six servings, it really isn't that much!
- Use FRESH parmesan – like really, don't buy that pre-shredded crap. It won't give you the same creamy sauce and it will taste inauthentic
Storing and reheating
If you have leftover broccoli chicken alfredo, refrigerate them in airtight containers, and be sure to use them up within five days.
You can store the sauce combined with cooked pasta, but for best flavour, I recommend storing just the chicken, broccoli and sauce. Then, cook a fresh batch of pasta when you're ready to enjoy the meal again.
Reheat any leftovers either in a saucepan over medium heat for a few minutes, or using 50% power in the microwave. Either way, stir occasionally and cook until the dish warms through.
Freezing broccoli chicken alfredo
Unfortunately, cream sauces do not freeze well, as they tend to separate and can become watery. However, you can definitely freeze broccoli chicken alfredo with sauce already mixed in! I like to use glass meal prep containers for this, because they can go right from the freezer to the microwave.
Another option is to freeze the leftovers in large Ziploc bags, then lay them flat in the freezer. This way, they will take up less space!
More skillet dinners
Meal prep tools
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on packing this dish up for leftovers
- Freeze this recipe in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months
- Or these aluminum foil containers are perfect for re-heating straight from the freezer to oven
- And of course I get all my free range chicken breasts from Butcher Box!
Broccoli Chicken Alfredo Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb rotini pasta
- 1 head broccoli, cut into florets
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup cream
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/8 tsp nutmeg
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1 red pepper, diced
Instructions
- Boil pasta according to package directions. Once pasta is finished cooking and right before draining, add broccoli, stuffing down into water. Remove from heat and let sit for 1 minute or so before draining. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, while pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in large skillet over med-high heat. Add chicken and saute for 4-5 min until browned. Remove chicken from pan and wipe clean.
- Add butter and let melt over med-high heat. Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Add flour, and whisk. Add milk 1/2 cup at a time, whisking to combine. Sauce will start to thicken. Add chicken broth after you're finished adding milk. Continue whisking. Add cream, salt and pepper, nutmeg and parmesan cheese. Whisk to combine.
- Add chicken back into skillet, along with cooked rotini and broccoli. Toss to combine. Add red pepper and stir well. Cook for another 4-5 min until all veggies are softened.
- Garnish bowls of pasta with red chili flakes, pepper, freshly grated parmesan and fresh basil if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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Jack Moody says
How about giving me the opportunity torrent the recipe WITHOUT having to print the entire article?
Taylor Stinson says
Hi Jack! There is a print button on the recipe itself that you can use to print the recipe without the article – it’s a little pink button to the right at the top of the recipe. Hope that helps!