This Chicken Broccoli Pasta is made with just three ingredients! A quick hack from the store gets this mega cheesy, hearty pasta dish on the table in just minutes!
A quick, 15 minute dinner that your kids are going to gobble up is always a good thing! Serve this pasta dinner with a side of our Homemade Garlic Bread – made in the same amount of time as the pasta takes to cook!
15 Minute Chicken Broccoli Pasta Dinner
Because who doesn’t love an easy dinner that everyone gobbles up? I promise that there will be empty bowls all around when you make this Chicken Broccoli Pasta.
Taking some help from the grocery store, we only used three ingredients to make this pasta recipe as easy as can be. In just about the time it takes for the pasta to boil, this mega cheese pasta dinner will be ready to go.
Ingredients For This Three Ingredient Pasta Recipe!
We told you this was going to be easy. But not only does a dinner recipe like this Chicken Broccoli Pasta need to be easy to make, it has to taste good.
No sense in having a dinner on the table that no one is going to like. We’ve all been there…the frustration is real. But we promise that if your family likes cheesy broccoli, this pasta recipe is going to be a home run.
So as you probably guessed, the first two ingredients are pasta (medium shells in this case) and shredded rotisserie chicken. Any leftover chicken or turkey will work though!
And the secret ingredient is…frozen broccoli and cheese sauce. Yep, grab it from the freezer, pop it in the microwave and you’ve got instant cheesy broccoli sauce for your pasta dish.
Genius, am I right??? All you need to do is stir the broccoli and sauce together with the shredded chicken and warm pasta and dinner is done.
What Other Types Of Pasta Can I Use?
Pretty much anything you like. Rotini, Penne, Rigatoni, even longer noodles like spaghetti will work! Smaller shapes like pastina and orzo might not be the best options for this pasta recipe, but honestly use whatever you have on hand.
Can I Use Ground Turkey Or Chicken Instead?
Definitely! If you don’t have leftover chicken or turkey on hand, you can cook ground chicken or turkey in a skillet first, season it with salt and pepper and then add it to this pasta.
Ground beef will work, too but we do like the lighter feel that chicken or turkey adds to this broccoli pasta dish. Want to keep it meat free? Just leave the chicken out altogether!
What Can I Serve With This Chicken Pasta Dish?
We do think this Chicken Broccoli Pasta is pretty much a complete, one pot dinner. But we do love our sides…
- Cheesy Garlic Bread
- Peas and Bacon
- Creamy Caesar Salad
- Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
- Sheet Pan Loaded Brussels Sprouts
Can This Broccoli Pasta Recipe Be Made Ahead Of Time?
This cheesy pasta dish is ready and on the table in just 15 minutes, so it really can be made right before serving. And, might we add, it is best made fresh.
If you do need to make this recipe ahead of time, there are a few tips that you should follow! When you go to reheat the pasta in the microwave, add a splash of milk or cream to make it “saucy” again, as the pasta will absorb some of the sauce in the refrigerator.
Make sure to cover the pasta and broccoli before putting it into the microwave so that the moisture stays in and doesn’t evaporate.
Want More Cheese Sauce?
If you find that you’re wanting this pasta to be a bit more saucy and/or cheesy, we’ve got you covered. Add a handful of shredded cheddar cheese and a splash of milk or cream to the hot pasta when you’re adding the broccoli and cheese sauce.
Another tip is to use the family size bag of frozen broccoli and cheese sauce instead of the (2) 10 ounce boxes because it’s a little bit bigger. Of course you can always grab another box of broccoli and cheese sauce and add that in, too!
Looking For More Easy Dinner Recipes?
- Easy Chicken Spaghetti
- Cheesy Steak Sandwich
- Beefy Tomato Soup
- Shredded Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches
- Cheesy Ground Turkey Skillet
Chicken Broccoli Pasta
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 Servings 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeThis Chicken Broccoli Pasta is done in just 15 minutes! A grocery store hack helps to get this mega cheesy pasta dinner on the table fast!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces medium pasta shells (or any short tubed pasta shape)
- 22 ounce family size bag of frozen broccoli and cheese sauce or (2) 10 ounce boxes
- 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken (a rotisserie chicken works great!)
- Salt and pepper for seasoning, optional
- Extra shredded cheddar cheese, optional
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil in a large pot for cooking the pasta. Salt the water when it comes to a boil and then cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and return back to the pot.
- While the pasta is cooking, cook the frozen broccoli and cheese sauce in the microwave according to the package directions.
- Add the broccoli and cheese sauce to the pasta and stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.
- For extra cheesy pasta, add a handful or two of shredded cheddar cheese to the hot pasta and broccoli along with a splash of milk or cream.
Recipe Notes
Store: Let the past come to room temperature and then store in an air tight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Cover the pasta with plastic wrap or waxed paper before reheating in the microwave. Reheat for a minute, then stir and reheat until warmed though. If the pasta is dry, add a splash of milk or cream, stir and heat for another 30 seconds.
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove Top
- Cuisine: American
