A quick and healthy meal, made with simple ingredients—perfect for busy weeknights.
Hey y’all—Gale here. You know those nights when you’re running on fumes, your kitchen looks like a hot mess, and dinner still has to magically appear on the table? That’s exactly when I reach for this one skillet chicken and broccoli dinner. It’s the ultimate easy weeknight dinner—high protein, low stress, and ready in about 30 minutes. Plus, it’s a one-pan wonder, which means fewer dishes to wash (and I think we can all agree that’s a win).
Now, I’ve tested a lot of healthy skillet recipes, but this one is hands-down a keeper. Juicy chicken, crisp-tender broccoli, a little onion and celery for flavor, and a quick homemade teriyaki-style sauce that ties it all together. It’s everything you want in a quick chicken dinner recipe—fast, flavorful, and family-approved.
And let’s not forget—this is also a great option if you’re sticking to low-carb chicken meals or just trying to get more simple, balanced recipes into your rotation.
Watch How It’s Made
Ingredients Needed for this Chicken and Broccoli Dinner
Basic ingredients come together to offer a whole bunch of flavor! Here’s what you need:
Main Ingredients (the Chicken and Broccoli)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 12 to 18 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into 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 Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut aminos (or tamari/low-sodium soy sauce)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable Sriracha
How to Make Our Easy Chicken Dinner
This healthy chicken recipe is super simple to make. Follow these easy steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium. Add the chicken and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Add broccoli florets to the pan and sauté until slightly tender. Remove and set aside with the chicken.
- Toss in the onion and celery and cook for 5 to 8 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Add broth (or water), chicken, and broccoli back into the skillet along with salt and pepper. Cook another 5 minutes, until chicken is heated through.
- Whisk together the sauce ingredients, pour into the skillet, and cook for one last minute. Done!
Reader Q&A: Skillet Dinner Edition
Can I use frozen broccoli?
Yep! Just thaw and pat it dry first so you don’t end up with extra water in the pan.
What should I serve with this?
Brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice are all great. You can even wrap leftovers in a whole-grain tortilla for an easy lunch.
Can I swap chicken breasts for thighs?
Absolutely—just cook a little longer since thighs take more time.
How spicy is this with Sriracha?
It’s a nice medium heat. Scale it down if you’re sensitive, or leave it out completely if you prefer mild.
Can I meal prep this recipe?
100%! You can chop the ingredients ahead of time or cook the whole dish—it reheats beautifully for up to three days.
You’ll Also Love These Easy Skillet Dinners
Can’t get enough easy weeknight meals? I’ve got plenty more where that came from! Here are some other recipes I think you’ll enjoy:
- Skillet Balsamic Glazed Chicken and Potatoes (pictured above)
- Ground Turkey and Sweet Potato Skillet
- Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Toss
- Skillet Lemon Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
- Skinny Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast
Remember to follow along on Facebook and Pinterest so you don’t miss out on any recipes!
Final Thoughts from Gale
When I say this is one of my favorite easy chicken skillet recipes, I mean it. It’s quick, wholesome, totally customizable, and perfect for busy weeknights when you want real food without the hassle. Whether you’re meal prepping, cooking for family, or just need a reliable go-to dinner, this skillet chicken and broccoli recipe checks all the boxes.
Try it out and let me know how you make it your own—I always love hearing your tweaks and swaps!
Warmly,
Gale
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
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Editor’s Note: Originally published Oct 22, 2015
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.