Creamy Chicken Broccoli Fettuccini

Is it just me, or does December seem to be the shortest month of the year? And question number two who’s looking for a quick and easy pasta recipe?

I have the answer to question two. I am always looking for quick and easy especially this time of year. So I came up with this  quick, easy Creamy Chicken Broccoli recipe the comes together in less than 3o minutes.

That’s right as long as it takes to cook the pasta you can have this restaurant quality meal on your table. Bite tender chicken, crisp tender broccoli, a hint of tomatoes in a garlic light cream sauce and full of Italian flavors, will make this one of the go to recipes, when your craving Italian and  need quick and easy too!!!

3 Tips When Making Creamy Chicken Broccoli Fettuccini

One: when your cooking the chicken for this Creamy Chicken Broccoli Fettuccini don’t overcook it, and be sure the saute pan is big enough to brown the chicken . Okay I know that was two.

Next, always under cook the pasta just a bit this allows for the reheat. And finally always save some pasta water, this step is easily missed.

And let me tell you, the pasta water with all it’s starch is a magical ingredient that thickens the sauce and adds more flavor. I always save more than I need just in case.

Get in the habit of always saving some of the pasta water if your boiling pasta!!

Oh one more thing be sure to deglaze the saute pan. That’s another important step, there’s a lot of flavor in the bottom of the

saute pan be sure to scrape all those brown bits up using a large spoon

If you make this recipe please leave me a comment and please don’t forget to tag me on Instagram. Hearing from you is my favorite part!!!

Ingredients

• 1 lb. fettuccini
• 3 boneless skinless chicken breast cut in medium chunks
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 lb. broccoli flowerets
• 2 cups diced tomatoes
• 2 cups chopped spinach
• 2 Tablespoons each butter and extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 chopped onion
• pinch of nutmeg
• 2 Tablespoons chopped garlic
• 2 Tablespoons chopped Italian parsley
• 1 cups reserved pasta water
• 1 cup chicken stock or wine white
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup parmesan
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Cook el dente adding the broccoli the last 3 minutes remove broccoli run under cold water, set aside. And reserve two cups of the pasta water before draining
2. Salt and pepper chicken chunks dust lightly with the four
3. Saute the Chicken until golden brown and cooked through about 10 minutes remove and set aside
4. Add the  tomatoes, garlic and onion saute until tender and just beginning to brown
5. Deglaze the pan with chicken stock or white wine scraping up all the brown bits at the bottom simmer a few minutes
6. Add the cream, nutmeg, reserved pasta water and parmesan cheese simmer 15 minutes or until sauce thickens
7. Return chicken and broccoli add the chopped spinach to saute pan cook just to wilt the spinach
8. Add the drained fettuccini
9. Sprinkle with Italian parsley and additional parmesan cheese

Sausage broccolini  Orecchiette

This  classic Sausage Broccolini pasta recipe is made with orecchiette  ‘little ear” pasta. You can use different shapes of pasta in this recipe you can without changing the flavor much, but “little ears” is my  family’s favorite.

Traditional the recipe uses broccolini rapi, the Italian broccoli, it tastes similar with  more bite and  bitterness.

If broccoli is all you have then use broccoli, but this might be one of those recipes where you make a trip to Trader Joe’s and buy broccolini rapi.

This recipe is quick, easy and like most of my recipes customizable to fit your lifestyle and diet, it can be on your table in 30 minutes and  become one of your family’s favorite too.

  Customize Sausage Broccolini Orecchiette

This Sausage Broccolini  orecchiette Pasta recipe works well with chicken and  shrimp too.

If you use shrimp saute them 3 minutes per side them remove them from the pan to prevent overcooking, adding them back in at the end just to heat through.

And of course you can use regular broccoli or spinach if that’s what fits your taste .

If you keep following  along pretty soon you wouldn’t be looking at recipes as often, you’ll be able to add and subtract ingredients to fit your lifestyle and taste.

Whatever ingredients you use keep it simple and fresh, and remember when sauteing large quantities  the saute pan needs to be deep enough to hold the ingredients. one pan of this size is all you need. This is the one pan I use from Amazon , it’s the prefect size for one pan cooking and not too expensive.

One more good thing about this recipe, it stay’s fresh in the fridge for 2 to 3 days, for quick meal reheats and it’s freezer friendly for ready made meals.

Let me know if you made this recipe. Please leave me a  comment and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram, I love  hearing from you !!!!

Ingredients

• 1/2 lbs. orecchiette pasta
• I Lb broccoli rabi
• 1 lb chicken Italian sausage casings removed
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 2 cups resevered pasta water
• 2 Tbs. chopped garlic
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup parmesan
• 1 Tbs. each chopped Italian parsley, basil, thyme and hot pepper flakes
• 2 Tbs. each olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Instruction

1. Heat oil
2. Cook sausage until golden brown breaking up the pieces
3. Add onion and garlic saute until tender and beginning to brown
4. Add trimmed and cleaned broccolini
5. Add chicken stock, resevered pasta water and herbs
6. Simmer  10 minutes
7. Toss cooked orecehiette  in sauce
8. Adjust salt and pepper
9. Top with  parmesan……. Enjoy!!!

Pesto Broccoli Gnocchi

This Pesto, Broccoli , gnocchi, dinner , is as Irish as am going to get on this Saint Patrick’s Day.

I am 100% Italian my husband is Irish, so I do cook corn beef and cabbage once a year, even though he could take it, or leave it.

Well this year, we are going to leave it, since I can’t get to the store with the Corona virus, and if I could the shelves are bare. That’s all am going to say about the  times were living in.

This Pesto, broccoli, gnocchi recipe was inspired by me wanting to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day even if it wasn’t traditional, with  ingredients I had on hand

So  here it is pesto, broccoli, gnocchi recipe that is easy and so quick it can be on your table in 30 minutes,  made in one pan and  your family and friends will love it.

It’s so easy it makes a great week night meal with family. Make it in a stove to table skillet and you have an easy gnocchi dinner, just fancy enough for Saturday night dinner with friends.

What Are  Gnocchi

Gnocchi is an Italian pasta, think small Italian dumplings. The most common is classic potato, the flavor  I used in this Pesto broccoli gnocchi recipe,

Homemade  are made of cooked mashed potatoes, flour and eggs. Some gnocchi recipes add ricotta to the dough. You can find these same flavors in store bought gnocchi.

Growing up, and in later years at the restaurants  I watched my Mama make gnocchi, on a floured broad using both hands, her skills never ceased to amaze me.

I was never as masterful  as my Mama, but in the restaurants before the prep cooks and after my  Mama passed, I make thousands of gnocchi, although I never learned how to use two hands.

Lucky for the home cook, in this pesto, broccoli, gnocchi recipe you don’t have to made homemade gnocchi. You can use store bought shelve or refrigerated gnocchi.

There are some good brands out there, experiment with different brands and flavors to find what fits your lifestyle and taste. I like, wait NO, I love one pan cooking, homemade

gnocchi don’t work as well for one pan cooking, you could up with mashed potatoes instead of little dumplings. In this pesto broccoli recipe I used classic refrigerated potato gnocchi.

Gnocchi cook quickly add them to the sauce the last 5 minutes of cooking, if at this point the sauce is to thick add a little chicken stock, if to liquid add 1 tablespoon of butter coated with butter.

When you make this recipe please leave me a comment and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram, that’s my favorite part!!!!

Ingredients

• 8 oz. store bought potato gnocchi
• 1 lbs. broccoli florets
• 1 cup chopped pancetta
• 1 cup prepared pesto sauce store bought or homemade
• 1 chopped onion
• 3 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons each chopped Italian parsley, basil and thyme
• 3 tablespoons butter
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a large saute pan  with the butter render the pancetta until crisp
2. Don’t drain the pancetta fat
3. Add the chopped onion and garlic saute until limp
4. Add the broccoli and chicken stock simmer covered 5 minutes
5. Add the gnocchi simmer 5 minutes longer
6. Add the parmesan cheese and herbs…..ENJOY!!!