Sometimes, you happen onto some of the better recipes by accident…
I have a spiral notebook where I write down the titles of any recipe that I see on tv that I want to make. They are divided by show so that it’s easy for me to look up the recipes when I decide to go ahead and make the dish. Well, last weekend as I was preparing my meal plan for this week, I was looking through my Rachael Ray recipes to decide on a recipe to make for today. I had a few that sounded promising from the titles, so I was looking them up online. One of them I read as “Chicken and Broccoli”. Well, I couldn’t find a recipe online from the Rachael Ray show called Chicken and Broccoli. But I did find this pasta dish that I’m grateful I came across, because it was absolutely delicious!! (And just FYI – after looking at my notebook again later, I realized that it said “Chicken and Broccolini”, not broccoli!)
I’ve made pasta sauces with cream cheese before. Several times, actually. I think it makes for a great fake-out alfredo sauce. And if you are looking to cut a few calories, I’m sure low fat cream cheese would work just as well! But I figured that since I’m eating all the broccoli, the cream cheese wouldn’t hurt, right? 
But this one was enjoyed by the whole family!
But this one was enjoyed by the whole family!Easy Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo
from Every Day with Rachael Ray
serves 4
total time: 25 minutes
8 oz. fettuccine or spaghetti
2 cups fresh broccoli florets
1/4 cup Italian salad dressing
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 2/3 cup milk
4 oz. cream cheese, cubed
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
Cook pasta as directed on the package. Add the broccoli to the boiling water for the last 2 minutes of the pasta cooking time. Drain.
Meanwhile, heat the dressing in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally. Stir in milk, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese and basil. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until sauce is well blended and heated through.
Add the chicken mixture to the drained pasta and mix until the pasta is coated.
Am I the only one not to have made an alfredo sauce with cream cheese?? What a super idea!
I love making "alfredo" sauce with cream cheese. No one can tell the difference!
It sounds delicious! I've never used the cream cheese in the sauce, brilliant!
Looks yummy. Good way to get your vegetable in. Thanks got the recipe.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has notebooks upon notebooks of bookmarked recipes… I've actually never done alfredo with cream cheese! It sounds delicious.
I've never made alfredo sauce with Cream cheese either. What have I been missing? Thank you for sharing this with me…I have so many notebooks full of recipes I need to try. I'm going to start going through them tomorrow!
ahhaha broccoli and cream cheese cancel each other out?!
thanks for this recipe – i need recipes like this lately coz ive just moved and need simple delicious non fuss meals!
That cream cheese addition sounds delicious. I like the fact that this can be made healthier than regular alfredo sauce without sacrificing the flavor.
I so love chicken alfredo! This looks so good, classic and easy. Thanks!!!
I'm going to give this one a try tonight. Thanks!
This was pretty easy to make and came out pretty yummy! Thank you for posting this. It is added to my recipe book
@Karen, I’m so glad you liked it!