This Chicken Broccoli Pasta is a staple weeknight recipe that comes together quickly and delivers in flavor. Broccoli is roasted in the oven until caramelized and then tossed with sautéed chicken and white wine and then finished off with pasta, melted marcarpone and parmesan cheese, brightened up with lemon and completed with fresh basil.
Chicken Broccoli Pasta
Grocery List:
1 Lb - Cavatappi (about 4 cups of dry pasta)
4 cups - Broccoli Florets
1/4 tsp - Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
3 - Chicken Cutlets (about .75Lb of chicken)
1/2 Cup - Breadcrumbs
2 Tbsp - Grated Parmesan
1 Tbsp - Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp - Unsalted Butter
1 - Lemon (juice of 1)
1/2 Cup - White Wine
3/4 Cup - Fresh Basil (plus additional few leaves for serving)
1/4 Cup - Mascarpone Cheese
1/4 Cup - Grated Parmesan (plus additional for serving)
Olive Oil
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees and mix together the breadcrumbs, parmesan and garlic powder on a large plate
2. Fill a large pot with water and raise heat to high. Right before the water comes to boil add in a generous amount of kosher salt to help flavor the pasta
3. Season the broccoli florets with a pinch of kosher salt, crushed red pepper flakes (optional) and toss in about 1-2 tbsp of olive oil. Once mixed evenly, place on an oven-safe tray and place tray in oven for about 18 minutes
4. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper
5. Cover the bottom of a medium sauté pan with a thin layer of olive oil and bring heat to medium. While the oil raises in temperature, dredge the chicken through the breadcrumb mixture. Once the oil becomes fragrant add in 1 tbsp of unsalted butter
6. Once the chicken has been coated on both sides, add the chicken into the sauté pan and cook for about 5 minutes. Before flipping the chicken oven - add in 1/2 cup of white wine and then flip
7. Once you flip the chicken and as it continues to cook, slice up the chicken into bitesize pieces and with a wooden spoon, scrape up any bits that might have been sticking to the bottom of pan
8. Once the chicken is cooked - you can turn the heat off and add in the roasted broccoli with the chicken
9. Once the pasta is cooked to al dente, add the pasta into the pan with the chicken and broccoli. Before mixing the pasta in, add in the mascarpone and grated parmesan, plus the lemon juice and fresh basil
10. Serve the pasta and top with reserved grated parmesan (optional) and basil and enjoy