Creamy Chicken Penne with Broccoli & Peppers

Ingredients

• 12 oz Penne pasta
• 1 lb Chicken breast (boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces)
• 2 cup Broccoli florets (fresh, cut into small pieces)
• 1 Red bell pepper (sliced into thin strips)
• 1 Yellow bell pepper (sliced into thin strips)
• 2 tbsp Olive oil (divided)
• 3 clove Garlic (minced)
• 1.5 cup Heavy cream
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
• Salt (to taste)
• Black pepper (to taste)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.

2. 2

   In the last 3 minutes of the pasta's cooking time, add the broccoli florets to the boiling water with the pasta to blanch them.

3. 3

   Drain the pasta and broccoli together and set aside.

4. 4

   While the pasta is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

5. 5

   Add the chicken pieces to the skillet. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.

6. 6

   In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the sliced red and yellow bell peppers and sauté until they begin to soften, about 3-4 minutes.

7. 7

   Add the minced garlic to the peppers and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

8. 8

   Pour the heavy cream into the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer.

9. 9

   Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened.

10. 10

    Add the cooked chicken, pasta, and broccoli back into the skillet. Toss everything together until thoroughly coated in the creamy sauce and heated through.

11. 11

    Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed before serving.

Notes

For a lighter version, you can substitute half of the heavy cream with chicken broth or whole milk, though the sauce will be less thick. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• pasta
• chicken
• creamy
• dinner
• weeknight-meal
• broccoli
• peppers