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This Chicken and Broccoli recipe is ultra-quick and easy to make, and tastes SO delicious!
For those nights when you just need dinner on the table…like that…this easy chicken and broccoli recipe won’t let you down!
It’s been one of mygo-toquick and healthy dinnerstandbysfor years and years now. And, since I first posted this recipe on the blog four years ago,thousands of you have now alsomade and loved it, and reported back that it’s one of your faves too. Understandably! Thisone is incredibly quick and easy to make, the zestystir-fry sauce is made with simple ingredients youlikekeep stocked your pantry, and thatclassic duo of chicken and broccoli always has a way of hitting the spot. Simple and healthy stir-fryFTW!
That said, as much as I love the classic chicken and broccoli combo, I should note that this recipe’sincredibly versatile if you want to mix things up. For example, feel like subbing in a different protein? Go for it. Have some leftover zucchini or onions or bell peppers or other veggies on hand? By all means, toss ’em in too. Feel like serving it up over quinoa or noodles, or even just some sautéed greens? Use whatever you have! The sky’s the limit for customizing here. But…this base recipe is an excellent one to bookmark as a good place to begin.
So that when life getsbusy,yet you still want ahealthyhomemade dinner you can feel good about,this winner winner of a chicken dinner can be on the table in no time.
Chicken and Broccoli | 1-Minute Video
First, a quick tutorial on how to chop broccoli, in case you need a refresher.
As you can see, there’s not much to it. Just cut upa few chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Sauté them in a skillet until cooked through. Then add the chopped broccoli and sauté for a few more minutes with the chicken, until it turns bright green and slightly tender (but I like mine to still be very crisp).
Then meanwhile, as the chicken and broccoli are cooking, whisk together a simple stir-fry sauce. As I mentioned above, I’ve keptthe ingredients for this one limited to a short list of pantry staples. So (hopefully!) it should be an easy one to whip out, without having to make an extra trip to the store. Just stir it in at the last second and stir for a minute or so, until thickened.
Then this quick and easy dinner will be ready to go! Enjoy, everyone!
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Chicken and Broccoli
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Heat 1 tablespoonolive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts, and season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is browned and mostly cooked through.
While the chicken is cooking, make your sauce. (See below.)
Once the chicken is browned, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and broccoli, and stir to combine. Continue cooking for an additional 3 minutes, until the broccoli is bright green. Stir in the sauce, and cook for an additional 1 minute until the sauce has thickened. Remove from heat and stir in the sesame oil until combined.
Serve warm, garnished with green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Or transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
To Make The Sauce:
Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl until combined.
Notes
I slightly tweaked the sauce recipein 2017, to add just a bit more to the recipe. But it should still taste the same! :)
Roasted or raw broccoli is healthier than it would be covered in a thick cheese sauce, or boiled in water, which can reduce its nutrient content by up to 90 percent. The bottom line is adding well-prepared chicken and broccoli into your mix of meals can benefit your overall health — and your waistline.
Is chicken and broccoli healthy? It all comes down to the ingredients you are adding to your chicken and broccoli recipe. Be mindful of the amount of sugar, cream, and oil being used. This chicken and broccoli skillet recipe is made with clean ingredients and a perfectly healthy recipe.
Broccoli: Use fresh broccoli for best results, but you can also use frozen broccoli. I recommend decreasing the cooking time by 30 to 60 seconds if using frozen broccoli. Seasonings: These could include melted butter, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and/or zest, salt, pepper, garlic, or shredded cheese.
Due to the high fat content and deficiency in other nutrients, such as fibre, a diet consisting solely of fried chicken and chicken rice is unhealthy. Other protein-rich foods he should consume include eggs, salmon, meat, and bean curd.
A popular combination of meals for bodybuilders is rice, chicken, and broccoli. It is indeed a very simple yet effective meal. The benefits are quite simple, it helps bulk up the body and refuel a lot of energy.
Not So Healthy: The chicken and broccoli diet, even though it can help you shed some pounds, isn't exactly a poster child for healthy eating because it's missing a lot of the nutrients your body needs from other foods. Variety Matters: A healthy diet should be a bit of a mixtape – lots of different tracks (foods).
In conclusion, the current study clearly shows that nutrient and health-promoting compounds in broccoli are significantly affected by domestic cooking. All cooking treatments, except steaming, caused great losses of chlorophyll and vitamin C. Only boiling and stir-frying/boiling caused the loss of total carotenoids.
You could also try pasta or quinoa instead of rice. Another great option is to add some vegetables to the mix. For example, carrots, green beans, and peas go well with chicken and broccoli. Or, if you're looking for a more hearty meal, you could add potatoes or sweet potatoes.
As a general guideline, incorporating chicken into your diet a few times a week is safe and can be a part of a balanced diet. However, it's essential to diversify your protein sources with fish, lean meats, legumes, and plant-based proteins for a well-rounded and healthy diet.
Yes, broccoli is generally considered a healthy vegetable, and it's safe for most people to eat every day as part of a balanced diet. Broccoli is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and various antioxidants.
How do restaurants make broccoli taste so good? As with everything made by chefs, they have unexpected (read: unhealthy) additions to their meals — mostly butter, oil and heaps of salt. An excellent tip for the perfect broccoli is the blanching step.
Once the water is boiling, add the broccoli florets to the pot. Cook the broccoli, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes. You'll know the broccoli is done when it's bright green and crisp-tender. Drain the broccoli into a colander, transfer it to a plate, and season it as you like.
Broccoli can be eaten raw, but blanching it quickly in boiling water helps give it a more crisp-tender texture and bring out its flavor. Broccoli can also be steamed, sautéed, and roasted. You could even throw long spears on the grill!
Low Calories, Slow Metabolism: The chicken and broccoli diet is usually pretty low in calories. Sure, that can lead to weight loss, but it can also slow down your metabolism and make you lose muscle, which isn't great for long-term weight management.
Broccoli provides benefits related to your brain, heart, bone, and overall health—though eating it can have side effects like gas and bloating. In whatever way you incorporate it, eating more of this vegetable is a smart way to upgrade your nutrient intake and help safeguard your health.
Chicken and rice can be a healthy and balanced meal, as long as it is paired with vegetables, healthy cooking methods are chosen, and lean cuts of meat are used. Switch to brown rice and chicken, or add vegetables, if you want to make this meal healthier and add more nutrients and fiber to your diet.
Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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