Chicken and Broccoli Rabe Pasta Recipe
This Chicken and Broccoli Rabe Pasta is a flavorful, hearty dish featuring tender browned chicken, slightly bitter broccoli rabe, and al dente cavatelli pasta tossed in an aromatic garlic and hot cherry pepper-infused olive oil sauce. Topped with fresh Parmesan, it balances spicy, savory, and fresh notes in a quick stovetop meal ideal for weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Herbs
- 1 large bunch broccoli rabe (about 1¼ pounds), tough stems removed, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons chopped jarred hot cherry peppers
- Salt and pepper to taste
Meat
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
Pasta & Oils
- 1 pound cavatelli or other short pasta
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more if desired
For Serving
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Blanch the Broccoli Rabe: Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the broccoli rabe and cook until it turns a vibrant green color, about 60 to 90 seconds. Use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a bowl, rinse with cold water to stop cooking, then strain and set aside.
- Cook the Pasta: In the same boiling water, add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season generously with salt. Heat a large pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and when shimmering, add half the chicken. Cook for 3 minutes, flip and cook another 3 minutes until browned. Remove and set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken using another tablespoon of olive oil, then combine all chicken back in the pan.
- Sauté Garlic and Peppers: Add the remaining ¼ cup olive oil to the pan. Stir in the sliced garlic and chopped hot cherry peppers. Cook stirring frequently until the garlic is golden, about 1 minute.
- Toss Everything Together: Add the blanched broccoli rabe and cooked pasta to the pan. Stir well to combine, adding more olive oil if needed to coat the pasta evenly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Serve the pasta warm topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- To reduce bitterness, blanching the broccoli rabe briefly is essential.
- If you prefer less heat, reduce or omit the hot cherry peppers.
- Use cavatelli or other short pasta shapes that hold sauce well.
- Extra olive oil can be added while tossing to enhance richness and coating.
- Chicken can be substituted with Italian sausage for variation.
Keywords: Chicken broccoli rabe pasta, garlic pasta, spicy pasta, Italian pasta recipe, easy weeknight dinner
Find it online: https://cookcrisis.com/chicken-and-broccoli-rabe-pasta-recipe/
