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Chicken With Broccoli Pasta – Ruby Tuesday Style

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If you’re looking for a quick and delicious pasta dish, your search has ended!

This dish is filled with chicken, pasta, broccoli, and seasonings, mixed all together with a fabulous parmesan cheese sauce!


It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen but it takes only 30 minutes to make.

Blue round dish with tubular pasta, small pieces of chicken and broccoli mixed in a cream sauce. There is shredded white cheese sprinkled over the pasta. Dish is on a white marble surface.

Fun Fact

Ruby Tuesday was founded in 1972 and is an American casual dining restaurant chain with over 200 locations nationwide.

The menu at Ruby Tuesday contains a variety of dishes, including burgers, seafood, salads, soups, and pasta.

Ingredients

Two large white bowls, one with cut up pieces of cooked chicken, the other with cut up raw broccoli. There is a smaller white bowl with shredded cream colored cheese.There is a square white dish with uncooked tubular shaped pasta in it. There is a stick of butter, a small clear bowl with white flour in it, a stainless steel measuring cup with milk in it, a flat white dish with powdered spices in it , and a small clear ramekin with orange hot sauce in it. All the items are in a group and on a white marble surface.

What You Will Need

  • Penne pasta
  • Fresh broccoli
  • Rotisserie chicken – shredded or cut into bite size pieces
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Milk
  • Butter
  • All purpose flour
  • Garlic powder
  • Smoked paprika
  • Hot sauce
  • Salt
  • Fresh ground black pepper

Helpful Tools

  • Large pot with lid
  • Steamer basket (see FAQ’s)
  • Cutting board
  • Large kitchen knife
  • Medium sauce pan (Qty 2)
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Whisk

Steps To Make Chicken And Broccoli Pasta

White strainer with cooked tubular penne pasta in it. The strainer is on a white marble surface.
  • Cook pasta al dente style following the package directions.
  • Drain the pasta and return it to the large pot.
Stainless steel pan with cooked broccoli pieces in it. The pan is on a white marble surface.
  • Rinse, dry, and cut broccoli into small bite size florets.
  • Steam broccoli.
Large round pot with cooked cut up chicken, broccoli and pasta in it. The pot is on a white marble surface.
  • Add the steamed broccoli and chicken to the pasta.
  • Cover and set aside.
Stainless steel sauce pan with chunks of butter beginning to melt into liquid. Pan is on a white marble surface.
  • In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter.
Stainless steel pan with melted butter and flour in it. There is a stainless steel whisk in the pan, Pan is on a white marble surface.
  • Slowly and continuously whisk the flour and cook until the sauce becomes a light brown roux (see FAQ’s).
Stainless steel pan with a white creamy liquid in it. There are dry seasonings poured on top of the white sauce. There is a whisk in the pan. The pan is on a white marble surface.
  • Slowly add the milk and whisk continuously until the sauce begins to slightly thicken.
  • Add the spices and mix throughly.
Stainless steel pan with a white creamy liquid in it. There is a mound of shredded cream colored cheese poured on top of the white sauce. There is a whisk in the pan. The pan is on a white marble surface.
  • Add the parmesan cheese and whisk until the cheese has completely melted.
Large round pot with cooked cut up chicken, broccoli and pasta in it. There is a cream sauce poured over the contents of the pot. The pot is on a white marble surface.
  • Pour the parmesan cream sauce over the pasta mixture and stir until throughly blended.
Large round pot with cooked cut up chicken, broccoli and pasta and cream sauce mixed together in it. The pot is on a white marble surface.

Let’s Talk Ingredients


Pasta tossed in a parmesan cheese sauce is an American classic dish that can be switched up to please everyone in the family.

Here are some favorite substitutions and variations:

Chicken ~ I love the taste and convenience of a rotisserie chicken for a good meal. However, there are many options you can use:

You can cook your own tender chicken breast (skinless and boneless).

If your kids are more into chicken tenders, make the recipe as a broccoli alfredo pasta and serve it along side of the tenders.

Serve it as the Ruby Tuesday chicken dish which is plated with sliced grilled chicken breast on top of the pasta, broccoli, and cheese mixture.

Fresh steamed broccoli ~ Sauteed baby bella mushrooms or jarred tender artichoke hearts are delicious alternatives.

Penne pasta ~ Use a hollow or tubular shape pasta such as ziti and shells that catch and holds the creamy gooey cheese.

Milk ~ Whole milk works best for this recipe but you can substitute low fat or skim milk.

Smoked paprika ~ Creole spices or ground chili peppers will turn up the heat a little.

Garlic powder ~ Garlic salt can be substituted (cut back the salt to 1/2 teaspoon).

Hot sauce ~ Add hot buffalo sauce instead. Talk about taking the chicken & broccoli to another level…yum!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make This Pasta Dish Gluten-Free?

  • Yes, this pasta dish can be made with gluten free pasta. Substitute the flour with cornstarch and use gluten-free pasta. 10 Best Gluten-Free Pastas.

What Can I Use Instead Of A Steamer Basket?

  • The best substitution for a steamer basket is a metal strainer or colander.
  • Place the strainer over a pot of water with a little bit of water (just lower than the bottom of the strainer). Cover with a lid and bring the water to boil.

What Is A Roux?

  • Roux is a mixture of flour and fat that, after being cooked is used to thicken soups and sauces.

Chicken With Broccoli Pasta – Ruby Tuesday Style

Blue round dish with tubular pasta, small pieces of chicken and broccoli mixed in a cream sauce. There is shredded white cheese sprinkled over the pasta. Dish is on a white marble surface.

Other Ruby Tuesday style menu items that are delicious!

  • Chicken Wings
  • Crispy Jumbo Shrimp
  • Barbecue Half-Rack

Check out other recipes from Join Me In The Kitchen that will tantalize your taste buds!

Easy Delicious And Healthy Recipe For Chicken Piccata

How To Make Torchy’s Tacos Damn Good Queso Dip (Copycat) – super easy!

Outback’s Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe (Copycat)

Easy Hatch Green Chile Relleno Casserole Recipe – super easy and feeds a crowd!

Easy 3-Ingredient Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie With Caramel – crazy delicious!

Yield: 6 servings

Chicken With Broccoli Pasta - Ruby Tuesday Style

Blue round dish with tubular pasta, small pieces of chicken and broccoli mixed in a cream sauce. There is shredded white cheese sprinkled over the pasta. Dish is on a white marble surface.

This dish is filled with chicken, pasta, broccoli, and seasonings, mixed all together with a fabulous parmesan cheese sauce! It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen but it takes only 30 minutes to make.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound penne pasta
  • 1 head of broccoli - cut into small bite size florets
  • 3 to 4 cups rotisserie chicken - shredded or cut into bite size pieces
  • 1 1/4 cups parmesan cheese - shredded
  • 2 cups milk
  • 4 tablespoons butter - salted
  • 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta al dente style following the package directions.
  2. Drain the pasta and return it to the large pot.
  3. Shred the chicken or cut it into small pieces.
  4. Rinse, dry, and cut broccoli into small bite size florets.
  5. Steam broccoli - Add about 1 to 2 inches of water in a medium size sauce pan and place the steamer basket in it.
  6. Add the broccoli florets and cover.
  7. Bring the water to a boil and cook for 5 to 6 minutes depending on the size of the florets.
  8. Add the steamed broccoli and chicken to the pasta. Cover and set aside.
  9. In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
  10. Slowly and continuously whisk the flour and cook until the sauce becomes a light brown roux (see FAQ's).
  11. Reduce the heat to low.
  12. Slowly add the milk and whisk continuously until the sauce begins to slightly thicken.
  13. Add the spices: garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, fresh ground black pepper, and hot sauce. Mix throughly.
  14. Add the parmesan cheese and whisk until the cheese has completely melted.
  15. Pour the parmesan cream sauce over the pasta mixture and stir until throughly blended.
  16. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

Helpful Tools

Large pot with lid

Steamer basket (see FAQ's)

Cutting board

Large kitchen knife

Medium sauce pan (Qty 2)

Measuring cups

Measuring spoons

Whisk

Some Favorite Substitutions And Variations:

Chicken - I love the taste and convenience of a rotisserie chicken for a good meal. However, there are many options you can use:

You can cook your own tender chicken breast (skinless and boneless).

If your kids are more into chicken tenders, make the recipe as a broccoli alfredo pasta and serve it along side of the tenders.

Serve it as the Ruby Tuesday chicken dish which is plated with grilled chicken breast on top of the pasta, broccoli, and cheese mixture instead of tossed in shredded chicken.

Penne pasta - Use a hollow or tubular shape pasta such as ziti and shells that catch and holds the creamy gooey cheese.

Milk - Whole milk works best for this recipe but you can substitute low fat or skim milk.

Smoked paprika - Creole spices or ground chili peppers will turn up the heat a little.

Garlic powder - Garlic salt can be substituted (cut back the salt to 1/2 teaspoon).

Hot sauce - Add hot buffalo sauce. Talk about taking the chicken & broccoli to another level...yum!


© Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen
Cuisine: American / Category: Pasta

Barb

Tuesday 10th of October 2023

How much flour do I use? Di measure the Parmesan cheese by the cup or ounces?

Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen

Tuesday 10th of October 2023

Hi Barb! Thank you so much for finding that error! You will need 4 tablespoons of all purpose flour. Also, the amount of parmesan cheese is by the cup. 1.25 cups or 10 ounces. I've corrected it in the recipe. Thanks again and have a fabulous day! Cheers! Laura

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