Description
Succulent chicken and broccoli elevate classic Italian stuffed shells with creamy alfredo sauce, creating a comfort meal that seamlessly blends rich flavors. Cheesy, hearty shells promise a delightful dinner experience you’ll savor with every delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon Sazon
Cooking Oil:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Dice chicken breasts into small pieces and combine with olive oil, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, creole seasoning, Sazon, and smoked paprika in a mixing bowl. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance flavor infusion.
- Heat skillet over medium heat with oil and butter. Cook marinated chicken for 6-7 minutes until golden and fully cooked, then remove from pan. Use the same skillet to sauté broccoli until tender and slightly crisp.
- Create Alfredo sauce by sautéing minced garlic in butter for 1 minute. Incorporate heavy cream and cream cheese, stirring until mixture thickens. Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese.
- Boil salted water and cook jumbo shells until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain shells and set aside.
- Combine cooked chicken, chopped broccoli, Parmesan cheeses, mozzarella, and prepared Alfredo sauce in a large mixing bowl until thoroughly blended.
- Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Spread thin layer of Alfredo sauce in baking dish. Carefully fill each shell with chicken-broccoli mixture and arrange in the dish.
- Drizzle remaining Alfredo sauce over stuffed shells. Sprinkle additional mozzarella and Italian seasoning on top. Bake for 15 minutes until cheese melts and becomes golden.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 3-5 minutes. Serve hot with optional side salad or garlic bread.
Notes
- Marinate chicken longer for deeper flavor infusion, up to 2 hours in the refrigerator for maximum taste absorption.
- Chop broccoli into small, uniform pieces to ensure even cooking and better distribution throughout the stuffed shells.
- Reserve pasta water helps create a silkier, more cohesive Alfredo sauce by adding starchy liquid to bind ingredients smoothly.
- Swap chicken with plant-based protein like tofu or chickpeas for a vegetarian version, maintaining the creamy texture and rich flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 165
- Sodium: 200
- Fat: 7
- Saturated Fat: 1.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 5.5
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Protein: 24
- Cholesterol: 70