Copycat Cheesecake Factory Chicken and Broccoli Pasta

If you've ever ordered the The Cheesecake Factory Chicken and Broccoli Pasta, you already know. It's rich, creamy, and completely over-the-top in the best way. This easy copycat version brings that same cozy, restaurant-style comfort right into your kitchen using simple ingredients and one skillet. It's fast enough for a weeknight, but it tastes like you went out of your way.

Jump to:

• Why this copycat Cheesecake Factory Chicken and Broccoli pasta works
• Cheesecake Factory Chicken and Broccoli Pasta
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Recipe FAQ's
• Is this chicken alfredo?
• Tips
• Variations
• Serving Suggestions
• More creamy chicken pasta dinners you'll love
• One skillet, zero regrets

Why this copycat Cheesecake Factory Chicken and Broccoli pasta works

This recipe keeps everything you love about the restaurant version! The creamy Alfredo-style sauce, tender chicken, and perfectly cooked broccoli-but skips the complicated steps.

Using jarred Alfredo and cream cheese gives you that rich, velvety texture without making sauce from scratch. It's the kind of dinner that feels a little indulgent but comes together in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

For the exact measurements, please refer to the printable recipe card.

• sautéed chicken breasts, cooked chicken thighs, rotisserie chicken or chicken tenders. You can certainly use raw chicken, it needs to be cooked first. I use leftover chicken when possible. Cut or shred into bite-size pieces.
• salt, black pepper and rushed red chili flakes - gotta have your spices.
• lots of garlic - so aromatic, the cloves garlic add a ton to the sauce. No one is going to know you used a jarred sauce!
• fresh broccoli florets - just like the Cheesecake Factory!
• rigatoni pasta (just like the Cheesecake Factory uses, but rotini works too) - though you can certainly substitute any kind of pasta. I like the tubes and shells because they really hold the sauce nicely!
• parmesan cheese, cream cheese and Alfredo sauce - for creamy richness.
• sun-dried tomatoes - adds such a nice intense flavor!
• croutons - just a handful for garnish as well as texture.
• lemon and minced parsley for garnish - now these ingredients are optional, but that squeeze of fresh lemon juice and fresh parsley helps brighten and lighten what could be a heavy dish.

Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions for the complete directions refer to the recipe card.

Recipe FAQ's

Is this chicken alfredo?

Not exactly, but it's close. This dish uses a creamy Alfredo-style sauce as the base, then adds broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes, and tender chicken to turn it into a more complete, restaurant-style pasta. If you love classic chicken Alfredo, this version gives you that same comfort with a little more going on in every bite.

Tips

• When cooking pasta, salt the water generously and make sure it's at a rolling boil before adding the noodles. Stir occasionally as it cooks so it doesn't stick, and reserve a little pasta water in case you need to loosen the sauce later.
• This dish also works well as a make-ahead meal. Assemble everything ahead of time, add a splash of cream to keep it extra saucy, then refrigerate. When ready to serve, bake covered at 350°F for 30-45 minutes until hot and bubbly.

Variations

• Add sautéed mushrooms, super yummy!
• Salty, kalamata olives are super tasty as well.
• You can also easily make this a vegetarian meal by simply omitting the chicken and using fresh mushrooms instead. And it's delicious that way - enjoy!
• Add diced red bell pepper and cherry tomatoes for a beautiful holiday meal!
• Substitute whole wheat pasta if desired.
• More great additions - caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes, sliced yellow peppers.
• This is also a great casserole dish, prepare the ingredients and pour into baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese and bake at 350 degrees until hot and bubbly - about 30 minutes. Wala, you have a chicken broccoli pasta bake!

Serving Suggestions

This is the kind of dinner that already feels like the main event, so think of the sides as supporting characters, not competition. Something crisp and a little tangy-like a quick cucumber salad or even sliced tomatoes with a splash of vinegar-keeps things from feeling too heavy.

If you've got a loaf of bread hanging around, toast it up with a little butter and call it a win (no need to get fancy here). And if you're feeding a crowd, a simple tray of roasted veggies or even a handful of olives on the side makes it feel like you planned the whole meal… even if this pasta was the only thing you actually thought about.

More creamy chicken pasta dinners you'll love

If creamy pasta dinners are your thing, you'll also want to try my easy chicken alfredo with peas. It's another quick, family-friendly dinner that comes together just as fast. And if you're in the mood for something a little extra cozy, Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel brings that creamy, cheesy, slightly zippy flavor that always gets rave reviews (and empty plates). It's one of those recipes that feels like comfort food turned all the way up.

Between these options, you've got a solid lineup of easy dinners that don't ask much but still deliver big on flavor.

One skillet, zero regrets

This is one of those dinners that checks all the boxes-creamy, comforting, and easy enough to pull off even when you're not feeling ambitious. It's got that restaurant-style feel without the extra effort, which is always a win in my book.

Give it a try and let me know how it turns out. I love hearing what's happening in your kitchen!