Description
This Creamy Chicken & Broccoli Skillet is a cozy, one-pan wonder that turns simple ingredients into serious comfort food. Tender bites of chicken and crisp-tender broccoli simmer in a velvety Parmesan cream sauce, all made in the same skillet for easy cleanup. It’s weeknight-fast, family-friendly, and perfect spooned over pasta, rice, or served just as it is for a satisfying low-carb option.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces in an even layer, season generously with salt and pepper, and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the minced garlic. Sauté for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, just until fragrant, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Add the broccoli florets and pour in the chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until the broccoli is bright green and tender-crisp.
- Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and Italian seasoning, mixing until combined. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2–3 minutes, allowing it to thicken slightly.
- Return the cooked chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
- Remove from heat and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley. Serve warm on its own, or spooned over cooked rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes, if desired.
Notes
- Grate Parmesan from a block for the smoothest, silkiest sauce—pre-grated cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can make sauces grainy.
- For a slightly lighter sauce, you can replace up to half of the heavy cream with whole milk or half-and-half, though the sauce will be a bit thinner.
- If the sauce becomes too thick, whisk in a splash of chicken broth or cream until it reaches your preferred consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Skillet Dinner
- Method: Stovetop, One-Pan
- Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg
Keywords: creamy chicken and broccoli skillet, one pan chicken dinner, easy skillet meal, chicken and broccoli in cream sauce, weeknight dinner