2 tablespoons olive oil
6 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (or to taste)
1 1/2 teaspoons cracked black pepper (or to taste)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups chicken broth - see notes
2 2/3 cups dry penne pasta (approximately 2/3 cup per person)
5 cups fresh broccoli florets
garnish with a little more olive oil and Parmesan cheese if desired
Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a large OVEN SAFE Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium high.
Sprinkle the chicken thighs liberally with salt and pepper and place them in the heated Dutch oven skin-side-down. Let them cook for 3-4 minutes. You want to crisp the skin. Turn the chicken and cook for 3-4 more minutes, adding the garlic after 2 mins. Move the garlic around so it cooks and becomes fragrant but DOES NOT burn.
Add the liquid to the hot pot and then place it in the oven. Cook for 20 mins or until the internal temperature of the chicken reads 160°F.
CAREFULLY place the hot dutch oven on a burner. Remove the chicken. Leave the liquid and cooked bits. Add 2 cups of water. Bring it to a boil. Add the pasta, reduce the heat to medium, and let it cook for about 6 minutes. Then add the broccoli florets. Stir and cover.
Cook for 3 more minutes or until the broccoli is tender but still bright green and the pasta is al dente.
Garnish with a little more olive oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese if desired.
You DO need an oven safe pot for this recipe to be "one pot".
If you don't have a cast iron Dutch oven (or enameled like Le Creuset) don't fret!! You can use a cast iron skillet for the chicken and then just cook the pasta on the stove according to package instructions, adding the broccoli florets to the boiling water near the end. If this is the method you choose you will need to drain the excess liquid.
Notes on the liquid: I use whatever I have handy. If I have an open bottle of wine I didn't love, I use that. Beer always works. The different liquids will change the flavor slightly, but in a good way! DO NOT USE ONLY WINE OR BEER though, or you are in danger of creating a tiny explosion in your oven. Temper the wine or beer with broth or water.
If you want to cook the whole pound of pasta you will need closer to 4 cups of water or broth in step 4.
CHOLESTEROL: 0mg SODIUM: 0mg
CARBOHYDRATES: 0g FIBER: 0g SUGAR: 0g
PROTEIN: 0g