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    • Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes -->This collection of easy chicken dinner recipes features some of our favorite family dishes, perfect for making a healthy, delicious home cooked meal on a busy night! Getting a healthy, home cooked meal on the table every night can be challenging. Particularly with the demands of work, school, activities and social obligations, well, it can be the last thing we want to do at the end of the day. So I’ve got tons of easy chicken recipes at my disposal that I turn to when I need to whip something up for us on one of those busy weeknights. (Or even busy weekends – dinners can be tough then, too!) And this collection of easy chicken dinner recipes has some that we make over and over again. It includes everything from skillet chicken dinners to slow cooker chicken recipes, one-pot chicken pastas, soups and salads with chicken, chicken burgers and meatballs, sheet pan chicken dinners and easy chicken casseroles. Are you looking for fast as well as easy? Me too. I’ve got collections of chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster still, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Or if you want to browse them all, my quick chicken recipes…
      • Easy Chicken Recipes with Few IngredientsThese easy chicken recipes with few ingredients include some great healthy lunch and dinner options, all made with 5 or fewer ingredients! I am all about the EASY when it comes to cooking. I don’t like to fuss much over my food and I certainly don’t like to spend a ton of time in the kitchen at the end of a long day. Easy chicken dinner recipes and healthy lunch recipes with chicken are much more my style. (As are chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster yet, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Cause life.) Speaking of life, a million trips to the grocery store also aren’t fun during a busy week. (Especially with little ones in tow!) So I’ve got these go-to easy chicken recipes with few ingredients that help me keep dinnertime simple. And my sanity intact. In fact, one of the first cookbooks I bought on my own, at a used bookstore in Washington, D.C., where I lived for a few years after college, was titled 3-ingredient recipes. I was pretty new to cooking and thought, I think I can handle that. My cooking skills have improved, but I still go for the simple chicken recipes…
      • Quick Chicken RecipesThis collection of quick chicken recipes features some of our favorite family dinners and go-to lunches, all ready in 30 minutes or less! From chicken skillet dinners to one-pot pastas, salads to burgers, you’re sure to find some new favorites! If you know me, you know I am ALL about the quick and easy recipes. I love making all of our homemade meals and home cooked dinners, but like you, I’ve also got a hundred other things to juggle and so keeping things simple in the kitchen is a must. And these quick chicken recipes include all of my chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, even faster, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Sanity savers for sure. Busy weeknights have nothing on us! A few of our favorites from these quick chicken recipes: Healthy chicken Alfredo with broccoli Creamy chipotle chicken 20-minute chicken and tortellini soup with kale Skillet salsa chicken Easy creamy chicken This collection also has some healthy lunch recipes with chicken for mixing up your lunch routine. (It doesn’t include my slow cooker chicken recipes though, since those aren’t ready in 30 minutes. But they can be super quick to prep in the morning and then…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 15 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pot wonders to salads, chicken skillets to tacos, you’re sure to find some new fast favorites! You know those nights when you walk in the door and need dinner pronto?! Like, 5 minutes ago? That’s when I turn to these quick and easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. I can make a healthy, home cooked meal for my family and be sitting down to enjoy it in no time. Cause plenty of evenings, 15 minutes is often all the time I have – or want to spend – on dinner. I’m not alone on that, right?! You can browse below but I thought I’d highlight a couple that I make over and over again. A few of our favorite easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes: 15-minute honey garlic chicken (gets rave reviews!) Southwest chicken skillet dinner (pile on your favorite toppings!) Quick chicken curry (perfect with rice and peas) One-pot low-carb leftover chicken recipe with spinach (my dad’s go-to recipe) This collection also includes some healthy lunch options that are quick to put together — like the Asian chicken mason jar…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 30 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pan meals to burgers, one-pot pastas to healthy salads, you’re sure to find some new favorites! Quick, easy and mostly healthy is pretty much the name of the game for dinner at my house. I love a home cooked meal and we eat a ton of chicken, which means I’ve come up with and found a lot of easy chicken recipes over the years. And this collection highlights some of my easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes, when you want something delicious but need it on the table pretty quickly. Is that every single night for you too? We’ve got everything from skillet chicken dishes to chicken pasta and from soups and salads with chicken to chicken meatballs and burgers. All the chicken love! Many of these recipes use boneless, skinless chicken breasts (though you could substitute chicken thighs if you prefer) while others use ground chicken and some rely on pre-cooked chicken, such as a rotisserie chicken you pick up at the store or some leftover grilled or baked chicken. Lots of these 30 minute chicken dinners are complete meals but…
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      • Slow Cooker Chicken RecipesThese hands-off slow cooker chicken recipes will put your slow cooker to work and have you coming home to a delicious, healthy dinner that’s ready to go! Some days, you just need someone else to make you dinner. I’m not talking takeout or delivery or a restaurant dinner. I’m talking about your crock pot or slow cooker. I find it supremely satisfying to go about my day, knowing that a delicious home cooked dinner is cooking up at home for me. I can play with the kids, take them to practices, run errands or just relax with a book and breathe easy. These slow cooker chicken recipes mean there is just one less thing to do in the evening and that’s a great thing on a busy day! This collection includes slow cooker recipes for boneless, skinless chicken breasts as well as chicken thighs (though you can usually sub either one). And many of these take just minutes to prep in the morning! 👍 Here’s a few of our favorite slow cooker chicken recipes: Slow cooker balsamic chicken Slow cooker bistro chicken thighs Slow cooker apricot chicken Crock pot Mediterranean chicken Slow cooker teriyaki chicken And be sure to check…
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    • Healthy Fall BakingThese healthy fall baking favorites include everything from muffins and baked oatmeal to snacks to cookies and cakes. These fall recipes are whole grain and most are naturally sweetened for a wholesome, delicious treat at breakfast, snack, school lunch or dessert! Does anyone else get the baking bug when the cooler weather starts to roll in during autumn? I know I do! I get excited for all the apple baking projects, pumpkin baking projects and even getting ready for all the holiday baking to come! 🍎🎃 The spices, the warmth, the aroma of having something in the oven is just part of the season for me. Plus the love that comes from a homemade baked good – it just can’t be beat! ❤️ And y’all know my style is definitely a healthier version of baking. I use whole grains and most of my recipes are naturally sweetened. I try to lighten things up where possible and keep to mostly wholesome treats, maybe with a little indulgence here and there! 😉 Wondering where to start? Here are some of our healthy fall baking favorites: Chocolate chip apple cake Pumpkin baked oatmeal with chocolate chips Whole wheat pumpkin applesauce bread Easy healthy…
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Chicken penne pasta with broccoli

August 20, 2020 By Kathryn Doherty

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy

Chicken penne pasta with broccoli and marinara sauce is an easy all-in-one dinner that’s family friendly, just a few simple ingredients and ready in 30 minutes!A large blue and white bowl with penne pasta, chicken and broccoli coated in marinara and Parmesan cheese

My kiddos started back to school this week. We are in person (for now) and it’s been a great first couple of days! They are loving their teachers (mine are in 4th and 1st grade) and they have some good buddies in their classes. Each class is split into a small bubble, everyone is wearing masks and the groups are spreading out all over campus to maintain enough distance.

I know we might end up doing remote learning again at some point this fall, but I’m thankful they’ll have a little school time under their belts. 

OK, let’s get on to the food. 

We are a pasta loving family, through and through. And I’ve been sharing the love here on the blog.

Most recently it was one-pot pasta with chicken sausage, spinach and peas and I’ve previously shared one-pot creamy chicken and mushroom pasta. Both are so creamy and delicious.

Oh, and my cheesy chicken pasta with zucchini and peas is perfect for a fresh summertime dish.

Today’s recipe is all about simple comfort.

Chicken penne pasta with broccoli is a great all-in-one dinner that the whole family will love.

A glass mixing bowl with pasta, chicken and broccoli plus a tomato sauce

It’s inspired by my family in fact. The pasta is for my carb-loving son. The marinara sauce is for my sauce-loving daughter.

And the general idea comes from my husband, who made some version of chicken-pasta-veggies for dinner many a night before we met and married.

So as you might imagine, this is a go-to recipe in our house.

Roasted chicken, tender pasta and broccoli get coated with marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese and mixed all together for a bowl full of delicious.

You’ll be vying to get a little bit of everything on your fork for each bite. I love that.

And while its simplicity might have made me hesitant to share, I think we can ALL use some more simple recipes in our lives these days, right?

Between back-to-school season and the craziness of this virus, simple dinners are about all I care to tackle.

Ingredients for a pasta dinner laid out on a counter

This chicken penne pasta is just 5 main ingredients and it’s ready in about 30 minutes.

So it’s the perfect throw-together kind of meal at the end of a long day. Cause if you’re like me, you’ve almost always got these ingredients on hand.

Plus, there’s tons of ways you can change it up and make substitutions, so you can really tailor it to your needs. Or whatever is in your fridge and pantry. 👍

So let’s get cooking.

Now, I’ve got some notes and substitutions coming up on how to make chicken penne pasta. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Pasta, cooked chicken and broccoli mixed together in a large glass bowl Large glass bowl of a pasta mixture with chicken, broccoli, marinara and Parmesan cheese

Notes on chicken penne pasta with broccoli:

  • The recipe calls for penne, but another similar sized pasta would work here too. Whole wheat or regular pasta are fine, as is a gluten-free pasta, just following the package directions for cooking time.
  • You can roast the chicken breasts in the oven, as indicated in the recipe, or you could slice the chicken and cook it in a pan. Or grill it.
  • Or make this recipe super easy and use a rotisserie chicken from the store.
  • Not a fan of broccoli? You could substitute frozen peas. Add them to the pasta cooking water in the last minute of cooking to get them thawed and warmed through.
  • Or fold in some fresh spinach with the cooked, drained pasta to wilt down for a different vegetable.

You could also change up the flavors here by the type of marinara sauce you use. I tend to go for the basic tomato marinara sauce. However, you could use a mushroom flavored tomato sauce or a tomato basil sauce for a different flavor.

Whatever you go with, you’ll need about 1/2 of a regular 25 oz. jar.

A metal spoon holding up a scoop of chicken and penne pasta with broccoli from a large glass mixing bowl

Want to make this super cheesy?

In addition to the Parmesan cheese, mix in a heaping cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. It’ll get nice and gooey and stretchy. Mmm!

Finally, let’s talk leftovers.

The leftovers of this chicken penne pasta with broccoli will keep in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove, adding extra marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

They make a great lunch another day – or a repeat dinner.

A serving of chicken penne pasta with broccoli in a blue and white bowl with two forks tucked in the side

I hope you give this a try for a comforting, familiar, delicious dinner that will have everyone digging in.

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. You can check out all of my 30-minute chicken recipes for more easy dinner ideas.

Yield: 4 servings

Chicken penne pasta with broccoli

A serving of chicken penne pasta with broccoli in a blue and white bowl with two forks tucked in the side

Chicken penne pasta with broccoli and marinara sauce is an easy all-in-one dinner that’s family friendly, just a few simple ingredients and ready in 30 minutes!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 (6-7 oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (see notes)
  • 3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or red pepper flakes for some heat)
  • 8 oz. (1/2 box) penne pasta
  • 1 medium head broccoli, cut into florets
  • 1 1/2 to 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving if desired

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray for easy clean up.
  2. Season the chicken breasts on all sides with the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake at 375 for 25 minutes, or until cooked through.
  3. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a roiling boil. Season generously with salt. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package directions. In the last 5 minutes of cooking time, add the broccoli florets to the pot with the penne pasta to cook the broccoli.
  4. Reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water, drain the penne and broccoli and add to a large bowl.
  5. Slice the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and add to the bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups of marinara sauce, 1/4 cup of the reserved water and the Parmesan cheese. Stir well to combine. Add additional pasta water and/or marinara sauce if desired to help the dish come together.
  6. Season to taste and serve hot with extra Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

Chicken: You can roast the chicken breasts in the oven, as indicated in the recipe, or you could slice the chicken and cook it in a pan. Or grill it. Or make this recipe super easy and use a rotisserie chicken from the store.

Pasta: The recipe calls for penne, but another similar sized pasta would work here too. Whole wheat or regular pasta are fine, just following the package directions for cooking time.

Vegetable: Not a fan of broccoli? You could substitute frozen peas. Add them to the pasta cooking water in the last minute of cooking to get them thawed and warmed through. Or fold in some fresh spinach with the cooked, drained pasta to wilt down for a different vegetable.

Marinara: You could change up the flavors here by the type of marinara sauce you use. I tend to go for the basic tomato marinara sauce. However, you could use a mushroom flavored tomato sauce or a tomato basil sauce for a different flavor. Whatever you go with, you’ll need about 1/2 of a regular 25 oz. jar.

Cheese: Want to make this super cheesy? In addition to the Parmesan cheese, mix in a heaping cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. It’ll get nice and gooey and stretchy.

Leftovers: The leftovers of this chicken penne pasta with broccoli will keep in the fridge for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove, adding extra marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 592Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 1454mgCarbohydrates: 96gFiber: 10gSugar: 12gProtein: 30g
© Kathryn Doherty
Cuisine: American / Category: Chicken
A large blue and white bowl with penne pasta, chicken and broccoli coated in marinara and Parmesan cheese and a text box overlaid on the photo

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Filed Under: Chicken, Chicken Recipes in Under 30 Minutes, Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes, Easy Chicken Recipes, Easy Chicken Recipes with Few Ingredients, Main dishes, Quick Chicken Recipes

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Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a health and nutrition editor, cookbook author, wife, mother of two kids, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes and resources to help you get delicious family food on your table! Learn more about me

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