Chicken and Broccoli Pasta with Oil and Garlic Sauce

This chicken and broccoli pasta dinner is my go to meal. Whenever I’m too tired to cook, forgot to defrost something from the freezer, or just rather call for take out, this is what we end up with 9 times out of 10. It is easy, delicious, healthy, and I always have all the ingredients on hand.

Watch this Recipe Cooked Step-by-step

In high school, I worked at a small Italian restaurant for a wonderful Sicilian man. He was a great chef, boss, and overall wonderful person. When he added this dish to his menu, I ordered it as my dinner almost nightly. While working there, the closest I got to making the dinners was by being the salad girl, so needless to say, my culinary skills were not very high. So many years later, I find myself preparing meals and using ideas and concepts from when I worked there.

My old boss is no longer with us, but I’d love to take this opportunity to say thank you for inspiring my family’s favorite dinner and for unknowingly influencing my love of cooking so much later on in life.

Chicken and Broccoli Pasta with Oil and Garlic Sauce Recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts, trimmed of fat, and cut into cubes
• 1 lb. broccoli, steamed (I love the steamable bags)
• 1 lb. whole wheat linguini ( we prefer whole wheat but use white if you’d like!)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• 1/4 to 1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, reserved

Note: I do not have measurements for the spices because I find that everyone’s palette differs on this recipe. Add seasonings as you cook, and keep tasting until it tastes good to you!

Chicken and Broccoli Pasta: Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Begin by cooking your pasta your preferred method. Make sure you are cooking the pasta in salted water. (See below for how to cook the perfect al dente pasta)
2. Meanwhile, in a skillet (I love this Caraway one from Amazon), brown chicken in 1 tbsp. of olive oil. Add the two minced garlic cloves.  Do not stir chicken until it has the opportunity to brown. You don’t want white chicken!
3. Season the chicken liberally with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes if you are using them.
4. Once browned, add the steamed broccoli to the chicken mixture and stir to incorporate the broccoli with the chicken and seasonings.
5. Once your pasta is cooked, drain, but reserve 1/2 cup of the hot liquid. Add the water to the chicken and broccoli mixture. This starchy water helps the sauce stick.
6. Add your linguini to the pan with the chicken and stir to mix.
7. Add the Extra Virgin Olive Oil, stir, then taste for seasonings. I always add more here.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Order these recommended items from Amazon:

• Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Saute Pan
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Whole Wheat Linguini

How to Cook Perfect Al Dente Linguini Pasta for this Recipe: Authentic Italian Method

Cooking linguini pasta to the perfect al dente texture is an art cherished in Italy. Follow these step-by-step instructions to achieve pasta perfection every time.

1. Boil the Water

Bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Using plenty of water is crucial to prevent the pasta from sticking together and to allow it to cook evenly.

2. Add Salt

Once the water is boiling, add 1-2 tablespoons of sea salt. The salt enhances the pasta’s flavor, giving it that authentic Italian taste. The water should be salty like the sea.

3. Add the Linguini

Carefully add the linguini pasta to the boiling water. Stir immediately to prevent the strands from sticking together. Using a wooden spoon or pasta fork, gently press the pasta into the water until it’s fully submerged.

4. Stir Occasionally

Continue to stir the pasta occasionally to keep it from sticking together. This also ensures that it cooks evenly.

5. Check for Al Dente

Refer to the package instructions for the recommended cooking time, usually around 8-10 minutes for linguini. About 2 minutes before the end of the suggested cooking time, start checking the pasta for doneness. Al dente means “to the tooth” in Italian, indicating pasta that is cooked through but still firm when bitten. Taste a strand to ensure it has a slight bite and is not overly soft.

6. Reserve Pasta Water

Before draining the linguine for your chicken and broccoli pasta, scoop out a cup of the starchy cooking water. This can be added to your sauce later to help it adhere to the pasta better.

7. Drain the Pasta

Once the linguini reaches the perfect al dente texture, quickly drain it in a colander. Avoid rinsing the pasta with cold water, as this removes the starch that helps the sauce cling to the pasta.

8. Add to Sauce Immediately

For the best results, add the drained pasta directly to your sauce of choice while it’s still hot. If you reserved pasta water, add a splash to the sauce to create a silky, cohesive dish.

9. Serve Immediately

Toss the pasta with the sauce until well-coated. Serve immediately, preferably with a drizzle of high-quality olive oil and a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Tips for Perfect Al Dente Linguini:

• Use ample water: This prevents pasta from sticking and allows it to move freely.
• Salt generously: Properly salted water is key to flavorful pasta.
• Check early: Pasta can go from al dente to overcooked quickly. Start tasting 2 minutes before the recommended time.
• Save pasta water: This is a secret weapon for perfecting your sauce.