Chicken Broccoli Ziti
Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1×1-inch pieces
- 10 ounces ziti pasta
- 1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
- Prep Ingredients:
- Cube the chicken breasts and prepare the broccoli florets. Set aside.
- Cook Pasta and Broccoli:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- A few minutes before the pasta is done, add the broccoli florets to the boiling pasta water. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the broccoli is tender yet crisp. Drain and set aside.
- Cook Chicken:
- While the pasta cooks, heat a large pan over medium/high heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil (not listed in the ingredients but implied from the instructions).
- Season the chicken cubes with salt and pepper and cook them for about 7-10 minutes or until fully cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Make the Sauce:
- Reduce the heat to medium. In the same pan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour and whisk for about 1 minute until the mixture is smooth.
- Gradually add the chicken broth and heavy cream, whisking continuously until the mixture is smooth and begins to thicken.
- Stir in the salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Continue to cook, whisking often, until the sauce thickens, about 7-10 minutes.
- Mix in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Combine and Serve:
- Add the cooked pasta and broccoli to the sauce, tossing until everything is well coated.
- Return the cooked chicken to the pan, stir to combine, and heat through.
Serve your chicken broccoli ziti hot, topped with extra Parmesan if desired. Enjoy a comforting and creamy dish perfect for any meal.
