Rotisserie Chicken Broccoli Pasta (Printable View)

Creamy garlic pasta with shredded rotisserie chicken and tender broccoli florets. An easy, satisfying meal ready in under 40 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or rotini pasta

→ Chicken

02 - 2 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded (skin and bones removed)

→ Vegetables

03 - 3 cups broccoli florets
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

05 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
06 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
07 - 1 1/2 cups whole milk
08 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
11 - Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

→ Garnish

12 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
13 - Extra Parmesan cheese for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions, adding broccoli florets during the last 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Sprinkle flour over butter and garlic, whisking constantly for 1 minute to form a roux.
04 - Gradually whisk in milk, continuing to cook and stir frequently until sauce thickens, approximately 3–4 minutes.
05 - Stir in Parmesan, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for another minute until cheese melts and sauce becomes smooth.
06 - Add shredded chicken, drained pasta, and broccoli to skillet. Toss everything together until well coated and heated through, about 2–3 minutes.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and additional Parmesan.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 40 minutes using a store bought shortcut that still feels homemade
  • The creamy garlic sauce clings to every piece of pasta and broccoli floret
  • Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day
02 -
  • The sauce will thicken as it stands off the heat, so do not panic if it looks a little thin in the skillet
  • Reserve about half a cup of pasta water before draining in case you need to loosen the sauce later
  • Adding the broccoli to the pasta water saves you a step and keeps everything in one pot
03 -
  • Use the Parmesan rind to infuse extra flavor into the sauce while it simmers, then remove it before serving
  • A squeeze of fresh lemon juice right before serving cuts through the richness beautifully