Creamy Garlic Chicken & Penne
Ingredients:
• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips
• 2 cups penne pasta
• 1.5 cups broccoli florets
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 0.5 cup chicken broth
• 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Extra Parmesan cheese
Instructions:
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne until al dente. In the last 2 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli. Drain and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Sear for 5–6 minutes on each side until golden and fully cooked. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• In the same skillet, melt the butter and sauté the garlic until fragrant. Pour in the heavy cream and chicken broth, stirring to combine. Add the Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Let it simmer until the sauce thickens.
• Return the pasta, broccoli, and chicken to the skillet. Toss until everything is coated in the creamy sauce.
• Sprinkle with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan. Serve warm and enjoy.