Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Trumpet Pasta

As we all know, broccoli is a very nutritious vegetable. It is a very good source of fiber, Vitamins A, C and K, calcium and folic acid...and it belongs to the cabbage family, known as Cruciferous Vegetables, which has anti-cancer properties. With all these health benefits that broccoli has to offer, I am truly glad that it is one of the few green vegetables that my daughters love. At least I wouldn't have to force them to eat it. :)

This pasta dish that I'm sharing with you today is one of Clarise & Cherlin's favorite broccoli dishes. I frequently use either macaroni or penne for this recipe...but I have this gluten-free Pappardelle's Trumpet Pasta, so I decided to use it instead. 

The delicious combination of broccoli, cheese and chicken always makes this dish a big hit on our table...but the fun shape of trumpet pasta made it even more appealing.

But let me tell you that whatever type of pasta you use, this recipe will surely bring delight to everyone. If you want your kids to start eating broccoli, you should try this!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb trumpet pasta (or any other type of pasta, I usually use macaroni and penne)
• 2 cups chicken breast, cubed
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 Tbsp garlic powder
• 3 Tbsp pure olive oil
• 1 ½ cup milk
• 1 cup Velveeta cheese, cubed
• 1 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese (and 1/8 cup more for topping)
• ½ tsp ground basil
• ½ tsp parsley flakes (and some more for garnishing)
• salt and pepper

Procedure:

1. Season chicken with 1 Tbsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Let sit in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

2. In a large saucepan, cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Add broccoli florets in the last 3 minutes of cooking. Drain and set aside.

3. In the same sauce pan over medium heat, stir fry chicken in olive oil for approximately 15 minutes or until cooked. Add milk and remaining garlic powder. Bring to a slight boil while stirring.

4. Add Velveeta and Parmesan cheese. Keep on stirring until both cheese are melted. Add ground basil and parsley flakes. Season with salt and pepper to suit your taste.

5. Add pasta and  broccoli. Toss until well covered with sauce.

6. Transfer to a serving dish. Top with Parmesan cheese and sprinkle with parsley flakes.