Chicken broccoli pasta gets kicked up a notch with a simple, yet flavorful, white wine butter sauce bursting with fresh lemon flavor.
Whenever I travel out of town, I like to stock the fridge with plenty of food and ready-to-eat meals that my husband can easily reheat for the boys.
Since I don’t want to worry about my boys surviving on Cheez-Its and Oreos, I love whipping up a batch of my fast and easy Chicken Broccoli Pasta with Lemon Butter Sauce.
Made with just a few simple ingredients, I love to use a little white wine to deglaze the pan after browning the chicken but you’re welcome to use chicken broth to avoid the alcohol.
Personally, I love the flavor it adds in the background of the dish and I don’t worry about serving it to my boys since most of the alcohol content cooks off.
This pasta is ideal for entertaining a crowd, gifting to a new mother or making ahead for an easy, re-heatable week day lunch.
Not a fan of broccoli? This pasta would be just as delicious with asparagus, green beans or peas.
Your fork is waiting.
Can this dish be reheated?
I think reheating it in a sauté pan with a little olive oil would be best but microwave totally works too.
Can I swap the chicken out?
Chicken can easily be swapped out for shrimp, pork tenderloin or even white beans.
Chicken Broccoli Pasta with Lemon Butter Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry penne regular or whole wheat
- 8 cups broccoli cut into florets
- 20 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 cups chicken broth low sodium
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Parmigiano reggiano and fresh basil optional garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salty water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions.
- Two minutes before the pasta is done cooking, add the broccoli to the same pot cooking the pasta.
- Drain the pasta and broccoli and return to pan; set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add cooking spray. Sprinkle cubed chicken breasts with salt and chili flakes. Add to pan and brown, 7-9 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and reserve.
- Leaving the pan on medium-high, add white wine and use wooden spoon to deglaze pan by scraping up the browned bits from the bottom. Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer.
- Add butter to the pan and heat until melted. Stir in lemon juice and chicken broth then simmer for additional minute or two.
- Add reserved chicken and any juices formed back to the pot with the pasta and broccoli. Stir in lemon butter sauce and toss well. Check for seasoning and adjust accordingly.
- Stir in olive oil before dividing between 6 plates. Serve with plenty of Parmigiano reggiano and fresh basil.
Need more quick dinner ideas? Check out my Pinterest board!
Liz
May 15, 2018 at 5:53 pmThis was such a nice departure from the creamy, gloppy chicken broccoli pasta dishes I’ve made in the past. I was searching for a use for my leftover roast chicken, and this worked wonderfully. I skipped the browning step and added a bit of the flavorful leftover gravy to make up the difference in flavor.
Liz DellaCroce
May 16, 2018 at 1:40 pmOh I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it Liz!! Let me know if you try any of my other recipes!!
Lisa
August 22, 2014 at 6:48 pmMade this tonight, it’s great! I think the leftovers wil be even better tomorrow after the sauce really soaks in the pasta!
Liz DellaCroce
August 24, 2014 at 7:56 amYou got that right!! Leftovers were even better! Glad you enjoyed!
Ashley M. | Our Full Table
August 19, 2014 at 7:53 pmThis looks amazing and I totally agree my boys would do that same thing. When I leave them for a night or two its so much less stressful!
Liz DellaCroce
August 20, 2014 at 8:18 pmTotally true!! :)
Liz
August 2, 2014 at 10:22 amThank you Liz for another nice recipe. Have a good weekend!
Liz DellaCroce
August 4, 2014 at 3:10 pmSame to you Liz!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife
August 1, 2014 at 11:04 amThat photo… I feel like I could literally sit down at my computer and reach in for a bite of pasta! I love this pasta dish! You have no idea, it speaks to my heart! haha
Liz DellaCroce
August 2, 2014 at 9:34 amhhaha I wish I could give you a big bite!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
August 1, 2014 at 10:12 amWhat a great make ahead meal! Love the lemon butter sauce!
Liz DellaCroce
August 4, 2014 at 3:10 pmLemon and butter are seriously BFFS :)
Megan {Country Cleaver}
July 31, 2014 at 12:00 amI’m a fan of make-ahead meals when I’m ahead of town for the boys, too. I’m adding this one to my must-make list!
Liz DellaCroce
July 31, 2014 at 10:49 amI hope you like it sista!
Gaby
July 30, 2014 at 8:45 pmTotally my kind of dinner!
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite
July 30, 2014 at 10:12 amYou are such a great mom. I know that mine would be eating countless amounts of goldfish and cheese if I didn’t plan ahead. Love this pasta dish.
Liz DellaCroce
July 31, 2014 at 10:47 amAwww you’re sweet. It was just the mom guilt kicking in. ;)
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm
July 30, 2014 at 9:37 amSimple pleasure are sometimes the best! Love that you have veggies with EVERY meal!!
Liz DellaCroce
July 31, 2014 at 10:48 amAwww every meal!!
Charlotte Moore
July 30, 2014 at 6:10 amLooks so tasty. Love pasta and broccoli together.
Liz DellaCroce
July 31, 2014 at 10:48 amThanks Charlotte!!
jan
July 29, 2014 at 4:24 pmMaking it tonight! I will let you know the families reviews!:)))))
Liz DellaCroce
July 31, 2014 at 10:48 amHow did they like it??
jan
August 3, 2014 at 10:09 amVery good, I went easy on the chili flakes will add more next time!!
Liz DellaCroce
August 4, 2014 at 3:09 pmI love adding more at the table too – I am glad you enjoyed!
[email protected], pleasure, and health
July 29, 2014 at 3:00 pmthat sounds like one fun trip…lemon butter sauce sounds pretty delicious.
Liz DellaCroce
July 31, 2014 at 10:48 amIt was so much fun!! I hope you try this pasta!
Matt Robinson
July 29, 2014 at 12:32 pmLoving this pasta, especially with that sauce!
Liz DellaCroce
July 29, 2014 at 2:44 pmCan’t beat lemon and butter right? :)
Erin
July 29, 2014 at 11:09 amWhat a great make ahead meal for while you are gone! And loved following your pics of the trip, I want to go back to NYC!
Liz DellaCroce
July 29, 2014 at 2:45 pmAww I love NYC too!! I wanted to stay longer!
Julia
July 29, 2014 at 10:38 amNow that is my kind of trip!! If I got to see a chick pea farm I would be in heaven! ;) This meal looks so healthy and uses such healthy ingredients. Saving for a busy night!
Liz DellaCroce
July 29, 2014 at 2:45 pmIt was seriously so amazing Julia!!! I hope you like this pasta!
MPS
April 17, 2015 at 9:41 amHow do you recommend reheating it?
Liz DellaCroce
April 20, 2015 at 4:58 pmI think reheating it in a sauté pan with a little olive oil would be best but microwave totally works too.