Description
Creamy chicken and broccoli brings pure comfort right to your dinner table, guaranteed to satisfy hungry family members with its simple, delicious blend of tender protein and green veggie goodness. Weeknight dinners become a breeze when this one-pan wonder comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Vegetables:
- 3 cup broccoli florets
- 3–4 cloves garlic
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Salt and pepper both sides of 4 chicken breasts generously, ensuring your seasoning covers every inch of the meat.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat at 375°F, creating a sizzling surface for perfectly golden chicken.
- Place seasoned chicken breasts into hot skillet, cooking 5-7 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and exterior develops a beautiful golden-brown crust.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a separate plate, keeping the delicious pan drippings in the skillet for the next steps.
- Add 3 cups broccoli florets directly into the same skillet, sautéing for 3-4 minutes until they turn bright green and become slightly tender.
- Sprinkle 3-4 minced garlic cloves over broccoli, stirring quickly to prevent burning and infuse aromatic flavor for 1 minute.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium and pour 1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup chicken broth, and ½ teaspoon dried thyme, creating a rich, creamy base.
- Stir in ¼ cup Parmesan cheese and 1 tablespoon lemon juice, whisking continuously to blend ingredients smoothly and prevent separation.
- Simmer sauce for 3-5 minutes, watching it thicken and develop a luxurious consistency that coats the back of your spoon.
- Nestle seared chicken back into the skillet, spooning the fragrant sauce over each piece to ensure complete coverage.
- Serve immediately, allowing the warm sauce to cascade over your chicken and broccoli, creating a mouthwatering presentation.
Notes
- Choose chicken breasts of similar size to ensure even cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
- Pat the chicken completely dry before seasoning to help create a perfect golden-brown sear that locks in moisture.
- For a lower-carb version, swap heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk or Greek yogurt to reduce calories while maintaining creamy texture.
- Fresh thyme provides the best flavor, but dried thyme works well if that’s what your pantry holds – just use about one-third the amount of fresh herbs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-24 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg