Looking for dinner inspiration? Our Chicken and Broccoli Skillet recipe is high in protein and guaranteed to satisfy!
One-pan meals tend to be my go-to choice when I’m looking for a quick-and-easy weeknight dinner. Actually, now that I think about it, I make one-pot meals on most weeknights, too. They’re simple and easy to execute, and I love how you’re able to develop a ton of complex flavor in such a short amount of time. Take this healthy chicken and broccoli skillet recipe, for example. All you need is some chicken, a few veggies, and a simple sauce to create a tasty dinner (all without the depressing mountain of dirty pots and pans, I might add). Sound just about right to me!
While all the components are simple, they’re actually pretty important, too. You see, when you’re planning a one-pot meal, you have to think about how everything comes together. The key is building those layers of flavor as you cook. If you don’t know how to do that, don’t fret!
I’ve developed a fool-proof method for making sure that flavors develop in a one-skillet meal: it’s all about a good sauce. You won’t have to work too hard, and you certainly won’t have to spend all night chopping additional ingredients. All you need is a few featured ingredients (like chicken and broccoli) and you can let the sauce do the work for you.
The Essential Sauce
The Teriyaki-inspired sauce in this healthy chicken and broccoli recipe is really the secret to tying all of the ingredients together. You start with a superfood veggie: broccoli. Along with its tender-crunchy flavor, you’ll benefit from a host of health benefits. Then, add in some protein-packed chicken. It just needs a few short minutes in a hot skillet to develop a crisp and flavorful exterior.
Finally, the magic happens when you add the sauce to those two components to make this chicken and broccoli skillet. This homemade Teriyaki sauce only requires a few ingredients to make (and you can use soy sauce if you don’t have time to make your own). It works perfectly to create a happy marriage between your protein and fiber. For all you spicy food lovers out there: consider adding the optional Sriracha to your sauce. It won’t add many calories, but it will certainly kick things up a notch
And, really, that’s what it’s all about! Making healthy meals that are full-flavored and taste better than the high-calorie alternative. Because why should you opt for high-sodium, fat-filled take-out when you can make a better meal at home for just about the same effort? The answer is, you shouldn’t! You’ll feel great after eating a meal like this healthy chicken and broccoli skillet recipe (and, did I mention the lack of dishes for cleanup afterward?).
So whip up some brown rice or quinoa as a side and get to serving. If you want my unsolicited advice, make enough so you have leftovers. This dish almost tastes better the next day and makes a perfect topping for a lunch salad, whole-wheat tortilla wrap, or just by itself. You’ll thank me later!
Try These Chicken Recipes, Next!
If you love this simple and delicious one-skillet chicken and broccoli dinner, we think you should try any of these healthy chicken dinners next!
- Stir-Fry Sesame Chicken
- Barbecue Chicken and Avocado Quesadillas
- Skinny Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast
One-Skillet Chicken and Broccoli Dinner
Ingredients
Chicken and Broccoli Dinner
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 12 to 18 ounces boneless and skinless chicken breasts chopped into large bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 cup yellow onion chopped
- 1/2 cup celery sliced
- 1/4 cup chicken broth or water
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos optional tamari or lite soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons vegetable Sriracha
Instructions
- Add olive oil to a skillet over medium heat and brown the chicken on all sides, about 8 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside. Add broccoli florets and lightly sauté until slightly tender. Remove broccoli and set aside.
- Add the onion and celery to the skillet and cook for 5 to 8 minutes, until the celery has softened, and the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the broth (or water), chicken, and broccoli back to the skillet along with the salt and pepper. Cook ingredients for about 5 more minutes, until chicken is heated through.
- For sauce, whisk together ingredients and add to the pan for the last minute of cooking time. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Have you made this recipe?
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Enjoyed this post? Discover more:
- Skillet Balsamic Glazed Chicken and Potatoes | One-Pot Recipes
- Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Toss Recipe
- Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet
- Skillet Lemon Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
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Editor’s Note: Originally published Oct 22, 2015
I need to lose 100 to 150#s in order to have hip and knee replacement. I take once a month treatments for my leukemia. I have no immune system. I’m diabetic, high blood pressure and cholesterol. Osteoarthritis, acid reflux. Due to cancer, no immune system and diabetes the drs day I am at 10 times greater risk of infections and complications. So where do I begin for exercise when I’m in pain most of the time and what diet plan. One for fast weight loss or diabetic. Was at 387# several years ago. Now no meds for diabetes. Don’t need..am at 330# right now. Need help for how n where to start. Need to get back to work but in no shape currently. Have workout bands just don’t know if there is video to purchase for DVD player. Need beginners exercise to get started and diet help…help me please.
Lisa, Please check with your doctor for a good recommendation about which exercise and diet programs will work best with your health issues.
We have tons of workouts for beginners, but to be on the safe side check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. 🙂
Try walking with Leslie Sansone. If you have access to YouTube she, and others, have lots of free full length videos downloaded on there. It is easy on the joints and a great way to ease into exercise. Skinny Ms has videos on there too. Walking is an excellent noninvasive exercise! It has helped me lose 50 pounds so far. Good luck to you.
Dear Lisa, I have lost 127 lbs. I eat high protein. low carb, (chicken, fish) Frozen vegetables are excellent to cook with and there are a lot of recipes on the net on how to make them. I have very debilitating arthritis and I HAD lymphedema and was very prone to infection until I started to loose weight. I cannot walk without a cane and or walker though as the arthritis is at that stage. I have 40 more lbs to loose to reach my goal weight which is 200 lbs. I also have to have knee surgery in the future. I find that CHAIR YOGA is excellent for keeping limber and the exercise is low impact and does not hurt your joints or cause you to have trouble breathing. I do 1/2 hr a day now but did YOGA twice a day at first. I have been at this 1/1/2 yrs now. My diabetes is eliminated now and I am off the medicine. It is not fun loosing weight. Snacks include carrots, celery….etc. There are a lot of YOGA excercise videos on Youtube. Good luck to you!
To to to salty family loved the flavors how can I lower salt without losing flavor?
Vicki, Use other spices, for example, with this dish maybe a little garlic powder, dry ginger, and a touch of heat with cayenne pepper.
This was DELISH, tastes just like Panda Express if you put it over some rice
We’re glad you liked it, Angela! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I need to lose 100. I have Osteoarthritis other than that no real health problems although I have been confined to a electric wheel chair. where or what kind of exercizes can I do when I’m in pain 90 percent of the day…please help thanks
Patty, I definitely recommend talking to your doctor prior to beginning any exercise program. Review our programs and workouts for “Beginners”, then discuss, with your doctor, which is appropriate for you. https://skinnyms.com/category/fitness/beginner-workouts/
when I import this recipe into myfitnesspal it has it at almost 350 calories per serving! (at 4 servings)… how do you determine your calories?
We use Edamam Nutrition Wizard. My Fitness Pal is most likely calculating the chicken with the skin on. This makes a huge difference in the nutritional data.
What do any of these comments have to do with the recipe that is featured!!!???!!!
Need to lose 25-30 lbs plz help
Darlene, check out our Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Weight Loss. Good luck!
This was a very good meal, very filling. I will definitely make this again!
Glad to hear it, Susie!
It says smart points 4, is that weight watchers?
Hi, Andrea. Yes, that’s correct. SmartPoints is a counting system for Weight Watchers.
Just used this recipe and it was wonderful. Super easy and my kids loved it.
Hi Angelina! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed our recipe. Especially your kids, they’re the toughest critics!
Where do find 4 smart points weight watchers? Recipe says 2 smart points, makes 4 servings
The nutritional data is for one serving.
Followed to the letter. Super quick and easy, yet delicious. I like the sriracha, gives it just enough spice and kick!
I doubled the recipe because my kids eat a ton. I only ended up with 6 1 cup servings instead of the 8 I should have gotten. Any ideas?
Brooke, Hmmm…possibly the chicken and/or broccoli were smaller than what we used for this recipe. I recommended increasing the chicken. Keep us posted. 🙂
Added a tad or ginger and Chinese 5 Spice. It was yummo. I also went light on the hot sauce.
made this tonight for dinner. soooooooo absolutely delicious
Meggie, Great! I’m so happy you enjoyed the dinner. 🙂
If I dont have veracha…for the sauce what could I use instead? Sriracha? Or would something else be better?
Heather, That would be fine. 🙂
I notice there was 3 types of Coconut Secret’s coconut aminos, which one do I use to cook this meal? Thank you.
Amy, I recommend either of these: Coconut aminos, Tamari, or Lite soy sauce.
This was so easy and delicious, we made it two nights in a row! The first night I subbed carrots for the celery because that’s what I had on hand. The second night I used a store bought stir fry mix. The sauce is phenomenal – just the right amount of kick – and couldn’t get any easier. Even my 2 year old devoured it!
We’re glad you found a recipe your whole family can enjoy!
Does the sauce add additional points or are they already figured in?
The sauce is included in the points!
Would regular Sriracha work instead of the vegetable sriracha linked in the video? Or are they not really the same? (Don’t want to have to order something online for this, assuming my grocery store doesn’t carry that.)
Hi Carl, Yes, regular Sriracha would work fine.
I made this tonight and it was delish. I added sweet red pepper and mixed in approx 1 Tbs of corn starch to the soy sauce mixture. Yum
John, Thanks for the tips. I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe. 🙂
How much of ingredients you need to make for 1 person?
Anna, Keep in mind you can cook the recipe, cool, and freeze for later.
For one:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped into large bite-sized pieces
1/2 cups broccoli florets
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
1/4 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup chicken broth, or water
1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Made this tonight everyone loved it … The only thing I did different was use cauliflower & broccoli. I also used yum yum sauce it was very tasty ❤️
Glenda, Great! Thank you so much for the feedback.
Yum! I also used regular sriracha and added fresh mushrooms. Served it over rice to those in the family not worried about carbs😋
This was very good. It uses basic ingredients that I tend to have on hand, so that is a plus. I added a little lime juice and honey to the sauce and a rough chop of cilantro when plating. The heat level with 2 T of sriracha was perfect for us.
Awesome
Delicious
This is a keeper, thanks! Made it exactly as written and the Sriracha really makes it flavorful. New to WW and am delighted to find a delicious recipe that’s not all fat free and processed foods.
Great! We’re so happy you enjoyed the Chicken and Broccoli recipe.
This was super simple to make and very flavorful. It was great for my Fast Diet – very filling. I’ll be using this again, switching up the meat with shrimp or scallops or mixing meats. May also add a few more veggies like carrots, zucchini, bean sprouts, water chestnuts and mushrooms. The sauce is delicious and has a nice kick. Definitely a keeper.
Karen, Thank you so much for the tips and feedback.
I made the mistake of using regular soy sauce vs low sodium soy sauce…way too salty! Will try again.
Awesome