This Chicken Broccoli Penne is a fast and easy weeknight meal that is loved by kids and adults alike. Comforting casseroles, like this one, are the most requested form of dinner in our house. Here, I've kept things simple with just seven ingredients and ten minutes of hands-on time. This recipe is highly adaptable, so feel free to play with the cheeses and toss in additional vegetables. I love this with my Slow Cooker Marinara but jarred pasta sauce works well too.
As much as I love to cook, there are nights when I am just not feeling it. Maybe I'm tired, perhaps I am in the middle of a really good book, or maybe it is beautiful outside, and I'd rather be there than in the kitchen.
Whatever the reason, the last thing I want to do is spend time making dinner.
If you have those nights too, you are going to fall in love with this super simple Chicken Broccoli Marinara Pasta.
It is fast and easy and comes together in just about 10 minutes.
Jarred marinara sauce works beautifully if you are pressed for time. (Or you can do what I often do and make a big batch of marinara and freeze it so that you can pull it out when you need to.)
This recipe is a great vehicle for cleaning out your crisper drawer, so feel free to use up whatever vegetables that you have on hand.
Serve it with a green salad, and you've got a veggie-packed meal that the whole family will enjoy. Give this chicken pasta with red sauce a try, and let me know what you think.
Ingredients Needed
- Penne Pasta: Use gluten-free or regular penne.
- Broccoli: I used fresh, but thawed frozen broccoli will work as well to make this chicken broccoli penne pasta.
- Oil: I used avocado oil because that is my preference for cooking, but use what you like. Butter is also a great option here.
- Chicken: Either chicken breasts or thighs work well.
- Marinara Sauce: Use homemade, or save time by using your favorite brand of jarred marinara sauce.
- Ricotta Cheese: Full-fat ricotta cheese is best as it provides a great depth of flavor.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Mozzarella is a kid-friendly option, but you can substitute any type of shredded cheese.
Variations
- To make this recipe vegan and dairy-free, use vegan ricotta and Daiya Shreds. (Or another vegan cheese that melts.). Omit the chicken and use sauteed tempeh, or Gardein chick'n. (To keep it gluten-free, make sure you use the scallopini.)
- Add sauteed or Air Fried Mushrooms, sauteed spinach, and/or carrots for extra veggies in your chicken broccoli pasta with tomato sauce.
- Use alfredo sauce in place of marinara.
- Add a sauteed red pepper, onion, and garlic. Finish with a kick of heat from red pepper flakes.
- Use sharp cheddar and parmesan cheese in place of mozzarella.
- For a richer dish, omit the marinara and ricotta and use this Creamy Tomato Sauce with Cream Cheese.
Pantry, Fridge & Freezer Swaps
- Frozen broccoli can be used in place of fresh.
- Cottage cheese can be used in place of the ricotta.
- Jarred marinara works just fine in place of homemade.
- Don't have fresh chicken? Canned or frozen works in a pinch.
Tips for Making Penne with Chicken and Broccoli
- Don't forget to salt the water that you cook your pasta in - it makes a big difference in the final taste.
- Add a tablespoon of olive oil to the water to prevent the water from boiling over.
- Reserve a ½ cup of the pasta water to use to adjust the sauce to your desired consistency. Try to have the sauce ready to go so that you can immediately toss it with the pasta when you drain it. This helps prevent the pasta from sticking to itself and a much better option than tossing the pasta with oil. (Which will keep it from sticking to itself but will also prevent the sauce from sticking to it.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen broccoli?
Yes! Chicken broccoli marinara pasta works perfectly with fresh or frozen broccoli florets.
Can I use any type of small/medium pasta?
Yes! Any small/medium pasta will work for this recipe.
How do you reheat pasta and vegetables?
If you’re reheating leftovers, the best way is to use the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F and place the pasta and vegetables in an oven-safe baking dish. If the pasta seems dry, try adding a little milk, broth, or marinara.
Cover with foil and bake for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat in the microwave if needed.
More Recipes to Try
- Baked Spaghetti with Ricotta is pure comfort food and another easy casserole loved by both kids and adults.
- This Gluten Free Orzo has a Mediterranean flair and is perfect when you are craving serious flavors with minimal effort.
- Penne with Sausage, Broccoli & Gorgonzola is a creamy pasta dinner that never gets old.
Chicken Broccoli Penne
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta gluten-free if necessary
- 2 cups chopped broccoli
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 pound boneless chicken breasts diced
- 3 ½ cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 6 ounces mozzarella shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking dish with oil.
- Cook pasta in a large pot according to package directions, adding broccoli in the last three minutes.
- Transfer to a colander to drain.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet. Add chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes, until cooked through. Add in marinara and ricotta cheese and cook until heated through about 4 minutes.
- Stir in pasta and broccoli and toss to combine. Transfer to prepared dish and top with mozzarella cheese. Cook for 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle
That looks so good! This is exactly the kind of thing I love to serve on the weekdays. It's easy, and we can eat it for a couple of days.
Bill Sweeney
That looks really good. I'm always on the lookout for a delicious meal that's easy to make and gets some veggies into the kiddos. Thanks
valmg @ Mom Knows It All
We love a cheesy chicken and broccoli. No child should go hungry. This is a great program and I'll be sure to watch for the blue boxes.
Liz Mays
I'm definitely liking the sound of this. I'll have to see if my daughter would make this with me when I go to her place!
Pam
So glad that Barilla is doing this. Childhood hunger is such a common issue, even here in my area of the United States.
Meagan
This sounds great. I may need to make it for the family one night. I know my husband would devour it.
Theresa
The penne sounds amazing, but I am really loving the charitable cause that each box purchased is going towards. Makes me want to run over to Walmart and load up on blue box pasta!
Shannon Graham
I would have gobbled this up as a child. However, my nieces are SO picky so this will be sitting in my back pocket for when they visit.
Jeanine
Yum this looks just delicious. love that its kid approved because I know my kids would enjoy something like this so we;ll have to give it a whirl!
AnnMarie John
I would love to help out as much as I can especially when it comes to children in need. It's good that there are brands that focus on child hunger because it's very important that we try to lessen the number of hungry children as much as we can. Thanks for the lovely dinner recipe!
Catvills
My kids were never picky eaters and I am sure they will love this dish. Why won't they? Its pasta, its cheesy, it has chicken and broccoli. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I'm making this tomorrow.
Nikki
How would it hold up if I prep it, cover and bake when I get home from work tomorrow?
Wendy Polisi
That should work fine - just be aware that gluten-free pasta doesn't hold up quite as well as traditional.
Sooz
Can this be made ahead and frozen? What happens when you cover with foil, then bake?
Wendy Polisi
I haven't tried it but it should be fine.
Chris
This looks delicious! We are new to gluten-free cooking - what brands of pasta have you found the most luck with? Looking for recommendations - thanks!
Wendy Polisi
Thanks!
Barilla is really good.