Tender garlic and herb-flavored chicken pieces are cooked and tossed together with broccoli and ziti in a cheesy butter sauce. This Chicken Broccoli and Ziti is a hearty pasta dish the whole family will love and just might become a staple in your dinner repertoire.
This is the broccoli dish that I make to get my anti-broccoli-loving child to eat (okay, and this One-Pot Cheesy Chicken and Orzo Bake). Because who doesn't love pasta with butter, cheese, and chicken? The key in our family is to make sure the broccoli is cooked just enough for it to start to fall apart. The pieces get all mixed up in the sauce, and even though one of my kids isn't a broccoli fan, he'll concede that you can't "taste" the broccoli even though it's everywhere. I'm all about getting the kids to eat those veggies (like with this Instant Pot Chicken and Rice and Lemon Kale Pesto Pasta) by making the vegetables practically hidden in plain site.
And for the pro-broccoli crowd? This pasta is perfect! Buttery pasta tossed with cheese, herbed chicken, and just enough garlic to let us know this one is an Italian-American classic. As far as Chicken, Broccoli and Ziti goes, this one is quite light-tasting and simple to make any night of the week.
Ingredients Needed and Substitutions
Here is a brief overview of the ingredients needed for this recipe. The recipe card lists the full recipe with quantities (located below this article).
- rigatoni or ziti pasta (another medium pasta is fine to use here)
- frozen broccoli florets (you can also use fresh broccoli)
- olive oil
- boneless skinless chicken breasts (this can be replaced with boneless skinless thighs as well)
- salt and pepper
- dried oregano
- garlic cloves and garlic granules
- unsalted butter
- fresh lemon juice (or white wine vinegar)
- parmesan cheese
- red pepper flakes
Visual Overview of Recipe
While this isn't a one-pot dish (we love those: One Pot Mac and Cheese and Easy Homemade Spaghetti O's with Meatballs!), this is a relatively easy recipe. Here is an overview of the steps needed to make this Chicken Broccoli and Ziti:
Step 1: Cook the chicken with seasoning
Step 2: Boil the ziti and add the broccoli towards the end of the cooking time.
Step 3: Combine the pasta and broccoli with the chicken, and mix with some reserved pasta water.
Step 4: Serve immediately with additional parm cheese and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
What to Do with Leftovers
This pasta dish reheats nicely, and I've even frozen leftovers with success (though upon reheating from frozen the pasta will be a bit softer).
To reheat you can heat it in an oven-safe container. I love using these (affiliate link) Glass Pyrex Containers because they double as storage and baking dishes. Or, you can reheat briefly in the microwave until warmed through. It's best to add a few tablespoons of water to the dish when reheating it.
Watch the Video
More Pasta Recipes
More Chicken Recipes
Making this Chicken, Brocooli and Ziti recipe? Be sure to leave a comment with a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on your experience! Have a question? Leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can!
PrintFull Recipe
Chicken Broccoli Ziti
- Prep Time: 00:05
- Cook Time: 00:20
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4-6 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Description
Tender garlic and herb-flavored chicken pieces are cooked and tossed together with broccoli and ziti pasta in a cheesy butter sauce. This Chicken Broccoli and Ziti is a hearty pasta dish the whole family will love. Don't forget to check out the video of me making it below!
Ingredients
- 16 ounces rigatoni or ziti pasta
- 12 ounces frozen broccoli florets (see notes for fresh)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into bite sized pieces (about 1-½”)
- 1-½ teaspoons coarse kosher salt (see notes)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- red pepper flakes, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and a big pinch of salt. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, add pasta and set the timer to cook the pasta according to package instructions. When there are just 8 minutes left on the timer, add the frozen broccoli. Continue to cook until the timer goes off. Set aside 1 cup of pasta water. Check the pasta to ensure it’s cooked to your desired tenderness. Drain the pasta once done and return to the large pot.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large saute pan over over medium heat. Once hot add chicken, salt and pepper, cook until chicken is cooked through to 165 degrees, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add garlic, oregano, garlic granules, and cook for 30 seconds. Shut off heat.
- Add chicken to the pasta, along with the butter, lemon juice, ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and parmesan cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt, pepper and pasta water as necessary. Sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes, as desired.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
This recipe was tested using Diamond Crystal coarse kosher salt. If you use Morton's kosher salt or fine salt, decrease by about half for volume, or use the same amount by weight.
Chicken breasts can be swapped for boneless chicken thighs.
If you don't have fresh lemon, use the same quantity of a vinegar, such as white wine vinegar.
Nina
Hi
When my children were young, I made this recipe with some slight variations and it was a hit. If possible it’s always a good idea to make a little extra bc it makes great leftover lunches.
SUZANNE ARENA
I really liked this receipe. We ate leftovers the next day which I put into casserole dish which I added 1 C. tomato sauce and 6 Tbsp C heavy cream with sautéed and caramelized Onion with zucchini with mozzarella, colby and mild cheddar mixed together and baked.
Patty
So delicious, a hit with everyone in the family. So much lighter than the Alfredo version I usually do and more flavorful !! Thank you
Allyssa
Best chicken broccoli ziti ever!!! So easy to make!
Roberta Coleman
What about using fresh broccoli?