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Authentic Italian Pasta with Broccoli Recipe
This pasta with broccoli (in Italian pasta con broccoli) recipe comes together with just 5 simple ingredients.
Think tender broccoli, creamy Parmesan, and pasta that hits that sweet ‘al dente’ spot every time. It’s a vegetarian main dish that won’t disappoint.
This is one of those recipes you pull together in about 30 minutes, and it always hits. Broccoli is basically a nutritional superstar, and when you’re in full-on weeknight hustle mode, that counts double.
I have to laugh every time I make this dish because… confession: I hated broccoli as a kid. Like, full-on drama at the dinner table, hated.
Now? It’s one of my ultimate comfort foods. The kind of recipe that’s quick enough for a weeknight, but still feels like a warm hug straight from my childhood kitchen.
Ingredients You Need
Here’s what you need:
How To Make This Easy creamy broccoli pasta
Fill a large pot with water, bring it to a boil, and add salt as soon as it starts bubbling.
Toss in the broccoli florets and blanch them for about 10 minutes — you want them tender but still bright and green. Scoop them out with a slotted spoon and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the broccoli back into the skillet. Add a little of the reserved broccoli water and continue cooking everything together for an additional 10 minutes.
Bring the pasta water back to a rolling boil.
Add your pasta and cook until just shy of al dente — about 2 minutes less than the package says.
While the pasta cooks, take half of the broccoli florets and blend them into a creamy puree using an immersion blender.
Don’t have one? No worries — mash them up well with a fork.
Once the pasta is perfectly al dente, scoop out a cup of the starchy pasta water and drain the pasta.
Toss the hot pasta into the skillet with the broccoli.
Stir in your creamy broccoli puree and mix everything until the pasta is well coated.
If it feels dry, add a splash of that reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Recipe Tips:
- Cut broccoli into small florets; they will cook faster.
- Don’t cook the pasta, as there’s nothing worse than mushy pasta. I start tasting it at least 3 minutes before the package directions. Remember that it will continue to cook a little more when mixed with the broccoli in the pan.
- Reserve some of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- If you prefer your broccoli to be a little crunchier, you can boil it for a shorter time and avoid blending it, but the creaminess is the beauty of this recipe.
Recipe variations
Lemon Broccoli Pasta
Brighten your broccoli pasta with fresh lemon juice while cooking and a sprinkle of lemon zest before serving.
Baked version
Add cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, béchamel, and a sprinkle of Pecorino or Parmesan, then bake until golden. Make ahead for an easy weeknight dinner!
Extra Protein
Toss in chicken or pancetta for a complete meal.
Sicilian version:
A Sicilian secret is to add anchovies when you brown the garlic in the pan, and to finish with some toasted breadcrumbs on top.
Serving & Storing Tips
For the best flavor and texture, enjoy your broccoli pasta as soon as it’s prepared.
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Reheat gently in a saucepan with a splash of water or vegetable broth, stirring occasionally until warmed through.
Tip: I don’t recommend freezing the pasta. For future meals, consider making a double batch of the broccoli sauce—it reheats beautifully and saves time.
Looking for more recipes to make with broccoli?
Try these delicious broccoli fritters, they are perfect as a snack!
For the perfect dinner for busy evenings, however, try this air fryer chicken and broccoli, juicy bites of chicken with tender, crisp broccoli florets make up an amazing healthy dinner.
Easy broccoli pasta recipe
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Pasta With Broccoli Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 or 2 Heads of broccoli depending on size
- 3 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Garlic cloves
- 2 1/2 cups Pasta
- Red chilli pepper optional
- 1/4 cup 20 g Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Use a small knife to remove the lower part of the stalk, then divide the broccoli into florets. Wash under cold running water to remove any impurities.
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the broccoli for 10 minutes until tender.
- While the broccoli cooks, slice garlic into rounds and brown it in a large skillet with extra virgin olive oil. Add chili pepper if you like a little heat.
- Transfer the cooked broccoli to the skillet with the garlic. Let it cook on low heat for about 10 minutes, breaking it into small pieces with a spatula. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- In the same pot used for the broccoli, cook the pasta until it is slightly al dente. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Blend half of the cooked broccoli with Parmesan cheese and 1–2 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water until smooth.
- Drain the pasta and transfer it to the skillet with the remaining broccoli. Add the creamy broccoli sauce and the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together until well combined.
- Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan.
Notes
- * In the same water in which you cooked the broccoli, cook the pasta.
- Follow the package directions of the pasta for cooking, they usually give the indication for al dente pasta, in case taste the pasta two minutes before the indicated time on the package instructions.
More simple pasta recipes
Pasta with zucchini, a light and refreshing dish.
Pasta with fresh tomatoes, it’s a perfect choice for a quick and satisfying meal.
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, a classic Italian dish.
Pasta e Fagioli, packed with vegetables, beans, and pasta, it’s a filling and nutritious dish.
Such an easy recipe. Really delicious!
Loved this recipe!
I love this easy pasta dish.
Love this pasta
Everyone loved it…even the broccoli!
Such an easy and wonderful pasta recipe! Love it!
So easy and such good flavor!
Delicious Pasta!!
Very nice pasta
A quick and tasty recipe!
My family loved this recipe. I will definitely make it again.
Perfect for a busy weeknight
I’m always on the lookout for a new way to enjoy my favorite superfood- broccoli! Thank you for sharing.
I have been eating this for years…..I am in my 70’s so for a long time….my Grandmother and Mother made it….now I do and my family loves it……even my son..
This is really good! My family loved it!
A new favorite for weeknights!
This is my favorite broccoli pasta recipe! Its so good
Easy ❤️
Have you had this in many years. Looks so very Beautiful. Anxious to make this again with angel hair. 💕💕💕
I loved how the broccoli was blended to create a creamy green sauce in this recipe. It tasted superb and is my new favorite way to make a healthy pasta dish.
I made this last night and it turned out so delicious. I did use non-dairy Parmesan but it still turned out great. Nice and creamy. Hi
Broccoli easy pasta sounds not only delicious but also healthy and kids friendly version. Needs to try for my kids.
I absolutely love this broccoli pasta recipe! It is a great way to get more. veggies in.
My kids gobbled this up! It will now be on our menu rotation!
I loved this easy pasta recipe. I used gluten free pasta and it turned out delicious. Thank you for sharing.
Really enjoyed the sauce
My kids loved this pasta so yummy
Tasty and easy pasta with lots of veggies. Simple solution
This is one of my family’s favorite pasta recipes! We make it all the time and it’s so delicious!
I have never tried to make this type of pasta, but it looks delicious and easy to make.
I am going to try this at home.
This pasta with broccoli was exactly what I was looking for. Simple, easy to make and fresh!
Has anyone ever tried roasting the broccoli in the oven (vs boiling)?
No, for this recipe I have never tried. But I think I prefer to boil them, because they will be softer and you will have a creamier result.
Really simple, and tasty! Love the creaminess of it all
This dish is so much more than pasta and broccoli! It’s creamy, flavorful and healthy. Don’t skip the red chili pepper (I used flakes). I’ll be making it again.
Can you steam the broccoli instead of boiling directly in water?
Yes, 100 %
This was a huge hit! Even my kids loved it 🙂
This was really easy to make and was really tasty. The whole family loved it!
So happy I tried this recipe!
So easy and delicious, thank you!
The perfect summer pasta!
I whipped up this for dinner last night, and to my delight, my kids loved it too! It’s definitely going into our regular meal rotation—it’s made with just a handful of healthy ingredients yet surprisingly tasty.