CHICKEN, BROCCOLI, AND CHERRY TOMATO FUSILLI

Chicken, Broccoli, and Cherry Tomato Fusilli image

For a one-dish weekday meal, serve our fusilli with chicken, broccoli and cherry tomatoes. It has half the fat of spaghetti and meatballs, plus it combines a healthy dose of vegetables.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories main-dish

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

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Ingredients

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (each about 8 ounces)
3 cups chicken broth, homemade or low-sodium canned
1 tablespoon kosher salt
6 cloves garlic, 2 smashed and 4 minced
2 sprigs flat-leaf parsley
3 slightly heaping cups small broccoli florets (about 7 ounces)
12 ounces spinach fusilli pasta (about 3/4 of a pound box)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon chile flakes
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano, plus more to pass
Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

In a small saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, combine the chicken, broth, 1 teaspoon of the salt, smashed garlic, and parsley. Bring just to a boil, remove from the heat, and set aside, covered, until just cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove the chicken, strain the broth. Pull the chicken into strips and put in a bowl with about 1/4 cup of the broth. Reserve the rest of the chicken broth.
Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat, then salt it generously. Add the broccoli and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer broccoli with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Return the water to a boil, add the fusilli and cook, stirring occasionally until al dente to tender but not mushy, about 8 minutes.
While the pasta cooks, combine the minced garlic, oil, and chile flakes in a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until lightly browned and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook, stirring, until somewhat soft, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup of the broth, the remaining 2 teaspoons salt, and stir in the butter and 1/4 cup of the pecorino until incorporated. Stir in the chicken and broccoli, bring to a simmer, and remove from the heat.
Drain the pasta in a colander in the sink. Transfer to a bowl and toss with the remaining 1/4 cup pecorino. Pour the sauce over the pasta, season with pepper, and toss to combine. (If the sauce around the pasta seems "tight", add a little more broth, until it loosely naps the fusilli.) Serve in large bowls and pass additional cheese at the table, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 675 calorie, Fat 24 grams, SaturatedFat 8.5 grams, Carbohydrate 65 grams