Creamy orecchiette cauliflower chicken is a one pan comfort food dish great for sharing on cooler nights. The perfect combinations of cauliflower and peas with velvety parmesan sauce is almost child-like. It is very satisfying and easy to put together for a quick meal. The cauliflower breaks down and becomes part of the smooth textured white sauce. With just a few ingredients and little time you have a hearty meal that serves up to 4 people. The whole dish can come together in minutes!
Ingredients you will need for creamy orecchiette cauliflower chicken
This is a cream based dish that you won’t see very often on thecookinglove. Chefs often consider cream based dishes a little outdated and heavier. They often are considered less healthy also. Nonetheless, they still hold a place in classic cooking, and with this dish we add complexity with stock and plenty of vegetables. Here are a few things you will need and some variations to try:
- The pasta. We like orecchiette as it is a starchier yet bite sized pasta that doesn’t tend to overcook as easily as other types. It also can hold a lot of richness. Since we are trying to get the cauliflower to break down into the sauce it is important that we have something that holds up. If opting for other types of pasta to use in place look for something equally as hearty such as rigatoni or ziti.
- The vegetables. We love the marriage of simple cauliflower and peas. Combined they make a great one-two combination seen in other dishes such as curries. Other options would be broccoli obviously. Rapini would work well, as would asparagus and mushrooms. If using asparagus we recommend adding later to avoid overcooking. Caramelized onions are great also.
- The sauce. We are making a reduction of cream with parmesan as a binder, but the deep flavors come from additions of chicken stock. You could consider even more umami with porcini powder added to the stock, or a drizzle of truffle oil at the end. We didn’t include any acid to cut the fats, but lemon zest or juice would also be great to break up some of the rich starches. You can also add a splash of white wine to deglaze the pan after sauteeing the shallots and garlic for more flavor.
- Aromatics. We use the classic starter of shallots and garlic for building basic flavor profiles. We also use a neutral herbs such as parsley to finish, but there are a million other options. Rosemary, sage, and basil are great other choices to take it into a distinct direction. Tarragon would also work very well.
Creamy Orecchiette Cauliflower Chicken
Creamy Orecchiette Cauliflower Chicken is a quick and easy one pan dish!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds Chicken breast
- 2 cups Orecchiette
- 2 cups Cauliflower broken into smaller pieces
- 1 cup Low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup Cream
- 1 each Garlic chopped
- 1 each Shallot Sliced
- .5 cups Peas
- .5 tsp Sea salt
- .5 tsp Black pepper
- .5 cups Parmesan grated
- 2 tsp Olive oil
- 2 each Parsley sprigs, leaves only, chopped
Instructions
- Prep the ingredients. Break the cauliflower into small pieces. Peel and slice the shallots and chop the garlic. Pat the chicken breast dry with a paper towel. In the sauce pan, bring about 1.5 quarts of water to a boil, and cook the pasta according to the instructions on the box. Do not overcook as they will cook again in the sauce. When done, strain the pasta in a colander.
- Wipe the pan clean from any stuck pasta bits, and return to the stove top over high heat. Add the canola oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, and sear over high heat. When golden brown, turn over and add the shallots and garlic to the pan. Lower the heat to medium.
- When the shallots and garlic are lightly sauteed, add the cauliflower and chicken broth. Allow to simmer over low heat. If adding wine, steam before adding the stock here.
- Add the peas and continue to simmer
- Add the cream and parmesan and pasta. If adding lemon zest or juice, add at this point also.
- Simmer until thickened over medium-high heat, about 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat and garnish with parsley or other herbs. You can also garnish with more cheese and lemon zest if desired. Bon appetit!
Nutrition
Serving: 2cupsCalories: 644kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 50gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 187mgSodium: 759mgPotassium: 1045mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1216IUVitamin C: 35mgCalcium: 187mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
