Cook Smarts’ cheddar chicken and broccoli pasta is a great way to sneak in a healthy dose of veggies for picky eaters. Sharp cheddar cheese and Dijon mustard bring this dish a step above normal mac and cheese. With minimal prep work, dinner will be ready in 35 minutes or less!
Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper
- 8 ounces pasta shells
- 1 bunch broccoli, stems peeled and chopped, crowns broken into florets
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup skim milk
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 4 ounces (about 1 cup) cheddar cheese, grated
- Pinch of cayenne or few drops hot sauce (optional)
Optional toppings
- Avocado
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheese
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Tortilla chips
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. (It should be large enough to accommodate the pasta and broccoli.)
Tenderize the chicken breasts by piercing them all over with a fork. Chop, season with salt and pepper, then set aside.
Cook pasta as directed on package. Add broccoli for the last 1 1/2 minutes of cooking. When pasta and broccoli are done, reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain pasta and broccoli. Set aside.
Meanwhile, make the sauce base by mixing minced garlic, with milk, Dijon mustard, nutmeg, salt and flour in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add oil and, once hot, add chicken. Sauté for about 4 minutes, until the outside gets a bit golden. Remove chicken from pan, and set aside.
Return pan to heat, and pour in sauce base, scraping up any chicken bits that may have been left behind in the pan. Once it starts to thicken from the flour, add in pasta, broccoli, chicken and cheese. Stir until cheese melts and everything is mixed through.
If the mixture is too thick, pour in some of the reserved pasta water. Keep adding the pasta water until you get the consistency you want.
Cook until chicken is done and broccoli is cooked to your liking.
Season with salt and pepper and cayenne or hot sauce, if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Serves: 4 | Serving Size: 2 cups
Per serving: Calories: 514; Total Fat: 13g; Saturated Fat: 4g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 66mg; Sodium: 622mg; Carbohydrate: 60g; Dietary Fiber: 6g; Sugar: 7g; Protein: 41g
Nutrition Bonus: Potassium: 614mg; Iron: 18%; Vitamin A: 27%; Vitamin C: 229%; Calcium: 40%
Cook Smarts creates a range of educational cooking tools and information to empower and inspire home cooks. Visit their website for a range of free cooking resources, simple recipes, and delicious weekly meal plans. Follow their adventures in healthy cooking on Facebook & Instagram.
Photo courtesy of CookSmarts. Original recipe can be found on Cook Smarts.
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