Chicken and Broccoli MacFredo: Try this Recipe Mashup!

I am a sucker for creamy pasta dishes like my chicken and broccoli macfredo. There is something about this type of comfort food that just feels right when you have the Sunday scaries and you feel the impending doom of a Monday morning knocking at your door.

This chicken and broccoli macfredo will keep the fright at bay or least distract you for a few minutes while you indulge in this dish that feels like a classic but lives in the purgatory between macaroni and cheese and alfredo. But, I put some broccoli in it, so at least it’s kinda, sorta healthy. Scratch that, healthiness does not matter when it comes to comfort food. The only thing that matters is keeping that dimming hope alive in your soul. Enjoy!

Serves 1-6 depending on how much you need to indulge.

Suggested Wine Pairing:

2 Bottles of unoaked Chardonnay and probably at least one martini.

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts, cubed

2 cups broccoli

1/2 onion diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons of butter

1 tablespoon of flour

1 cup of cream

2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

16 ounces of fusilli or your favorite pasta shape

Parsley for the pretty

Instructions:

1. Trim broccoli florets from the stems. If you have a decent amount of stems, make a quick stock by covering the stems with water in a saucepan and allowing to simmer while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. Drain reserving the broccoli and discard the stocks.
2. Begin boiling the pasta water.
3. Sauté chicken in 1 tablespoon of butter. Once it is slightly brown, add the onions and cook until just translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 more seconds.
4. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the chicken and onions and sprinkle the flour over the pan once the butter starts to melt. Stir to combine.
5. Stir in cream and add broccoli stock, chicken stock, or more cream if the mixture becomes too thick. Ideally, the sauce should coat the back of a spoon.
6. Cook pasta according to the package instructions adding in the broccoli during the last 4 minutes of cooking. Drain.
7. Add cheese to the sauce and stir to combine. Add more stock or cream as needed for desired consistency.
8. In a large bowl, combine the pasta and broccoli with cheese sauce. Sprinkle with parsley to feign the illusion of healthfulness and say a prayer in your only hope to bring the spark back to your eye.

If you like this, be sure to try out my other pasta recipes like my chicken parmesan and feta pasta bake! And if you love macaroni and cheese, check out my butternut squash mac & cheese.