Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and salt it generously. Add the penne and cook for 6 minutes; stir in the broccoli florets and cook 2 minutes more, until the pasta is just shy of al dente and the broccoli is bright green and crisp-tender. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Heat the oven to 425°F.
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute, until fragrant but not browned. Pour in the evaporated milk and chicken broth and warm until steaming — do not let it boil. Take the pan off the heat.
- Whisk the 3/4 cup Parmesan and the nutmeg into the warm milk until smooth and slightly thickened. Season with the salt and pepper. If the sauce looks too thick, whisk in a splash of the reserved pasta water.
- In the baking dish, toss the drained pasta, broccoli, and shredded chicken with the alfredo sauce until everything is evenly coated. Spread into an even layer.
- Shower the mozzarella and the remaining 2 tablespoons of Parmesan evenly over the top. Bake at 425°F for 8–10 minutes, until golden and bubbly around the edges. The chicken is already cooked — you are just heating everything through to steaming.
- Rest 2–3 minutes so the sauce sets and thickens slightly. Scatter with parsley and cracked black pepper and serve straight from the dish.
Notes
Food safety: rotisserie chicken is already cooked — reheat to steaming (165°F). Evaporated milk + Parmesan replaces heavy cream; do not boil the sauce or it can curdle. Leftovers 4 days refrigerated; not freezer-friendly (the lightened sauce can separate). Protein ~40g/serving estimated from USDA FoodData Central; not lab-tested.