Creamy Chicken Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Broccoli and Havarti – Cozy Comfort in a Bowl
Creamy Chicken Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Broccoli and Havarti is the ultimate cozy dinner. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to the creamiest sauce without breaking a sweat. The crispy, slightly charred broccoli adds a wonderful crunch and freshness to the rich, comforting pasta. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Creamy Lasagna Soup Recipe and Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich.
Why This Creamy Chicken Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Broccoli and Havarti – Cozy Comfort in a Bowl Is Pure Comfort
- Creamy, rich sauce without heavy cream
- Crispy, slightly charred broccoli adds crunch and freshness
- Better than takeout, ready in 30 minutes
- Easy cleanup with just one pot
What You'll Need for Creamy Chicken Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Broccoli and Havarti – Cozy Comfort in a Bowl
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Bowtie pasta
- Broccoli florets
- Havarti cheese
- Garlic
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chicken broth
- Heavy cream
- Milk
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: You can also use chicken thighs or leftover cooked chicken.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfectly cooked chicken and pasta. → See on Amazon
- Immersion Blender — Smooth, lump-free sauce without dirtying a blender. → See on Amazon
How to Make Creamy Chicken Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Broccoli and Havarti – Cozy Comfort in a Bowl
- Cook Chicken: Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Cook in a hot skillet until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Cook Pasta: In the same skillet, cook pasta according to package instructions. Remove and set aside, reserving some pasta water.
- Roast Broccoli: Toss broccoli with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes or until crispy and slightly charred.
- Make Sauce: In the skillet, sauté garlic and onion. Add chicken broth, heavy cream, and milk. Simmer until thickened. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Stir in Havarti until melted.
- Combine: Add chicken, pasta, and broccoli to the skillet. Toss to combine, adding pasta water if needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Creamy Chicken Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Broccoli and Havarti – Cozy Comfort in a Bowl
- Common mistake and fix: Adding too much milk can make the sauce watery. If this happens, simmer the sauce until it thickens or use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.
- Tip: For an even creamier sauce, blend some of the pasta cooking water into the sauce.
- Tip: To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and ensure your chicken broth is gluten-free.
Storing & Reheating Creamy Chicken Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Broccoli and Havarti – Cozy Comfort in a Bowl
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can cook the chicken and pasta ahead of time and store separately in the fridge. Combine and make the sauce just before serving.
Freezing Creamy Chicken Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Broccoli and Havarti – Cozy Comfort in a Bowl
Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For an even creamier sauce, blend some of the pasta cooking water into the sauce.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the Havarti cheese with Gouda or Mozzarella.
- Make-ahead: You can cook the chicken and pasta ahead of time and store separately in the fridge. Combine and make the sauce just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with some pasta water. If it's too thin, simmer it until it thickens.
Want to level up this recipe?
Good quality Havarti cheese — Makes a huge difference in the creamy, rich flavor of the sauce. → Check price on Amazon
Creamy Chicken Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Broccoli and Havarti – Cozy Comfort in a Bowl
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Bowtie pasta
- Broccoli florets
- Havarti cheese
Seasonings
- Garlic
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chicken broth
- Heavy cream
- Milk
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley
- Red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Cook in a hot skillet until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- Cook Pasta: In the same skillet, cook pasta according to package instructions. Remove and set aside, reserving some pasta water.
- Roast Broccoli: Toss broccoli with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes or until crispy and slightly charred.
- Make Sauce: In the skillet, sauté garlic and onion. Add chicken broth, heavy cream, and milk. Simmer until thickened. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Stir in Havarti until melted.
- Combine: Add chicken, pasta, and broccoli to the skillet. Toss to combine, adding pasta water if needed. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes.
Notes
- Chef tip: For an even creamier sauce, blend some of the pasta cooking water into the sauce.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the Havarti cheese with Gouda or Mozzarella.
- Make-ahead: You can cook the chicken and pasta ahead of time and store separately in the fridge. Combine and make the sauce just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with some pasta water. If it's too thin, simmer it until it thickens.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: You can cook the chicken and pasta ahead of time and store separately in the fridge. Combine and make the sauce just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 650
- Protein: 45g
- Fat: 25g
- Carbs: 60g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 14g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Creamy Chicken Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Broccoli and Havarti – Cozy Comfort in a Bowl FAQs
Yes, you can cook the chicken and pasta ahead of time. Combine and make the sauce just before serving.
Adding too much milk can make the sauce watery. If this happens, simmer the sauce until it thickens or use an immersion blender to blend until smooth.
Yes, you can freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Yes, you can cook the chicken in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through. Then proceed with the recipe as written.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Stir halfway through if reheating in the microwave.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Creamy Chicken Bowtie Pasta with Roasted Broccoli and Havarti – Cozy Comfort in a Bowl and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
