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Pasta With Broccoli: An Easy Pasta Recipe

Pasta with broccoli is an easy to prepare, tasty and vegetarian main course.

The secret to creating a super delicious pasta with broccoli is all in the cooking of the broccoli florets.

Boil them in the same water that you will use to cook the pasta, and cook them until tender.

Then reduce half of them into a cream: in this way, when you are going to mix the pasta, you will create a green and tasty cream, which no one can resist!

pasta with broccoli

Why This Recipe Is The Best

First of all, it’s a super tasty dish, and it only takes 5 ingredients to prepare.

Quick to prepare: Suitable for a quick lunch or dinner.

Super yummy: Broccoli, garlic, and parmesan cheese are meant to be together.

A healthy dish: Broccoli is considered a super food. Below I explain all the benefits of broccoli.

pasta with broccoli

What Goes In The Pasta With Broccoli

Broccoli: The star of this tasty recipe.

When you buy broccoli, make sure it has a dark green color and is firm to the touch. These are the characteristics of fresh broccoli.

If you see that the green of the broccoli tends to yellow, it means that you are in the presence of a product that is no longer fresh.

You can also use frozen broccoli in this recipe. 

Pasta: I used tagliatelle for this recipe, but you can use any type of pasta you prefer.

Fresh garlic: I love cooking with garlic, as it gives a unique and healthy flavor to dishes. 

Extra virgin olive oil: It is always good to use the extra virgin olive oil.

Parmesan cheese : Parmesan cheese with broccoli is a great combination. We’ll use it to make the broccoli cream super tasty.

Red chilli pepper (optional): The chilli is optional. If you love that hint of spice then I recommend using it. If you do not like spicy flavors, you can leave it out.

How To Make This Easy Pasta With Broccoli

It is really easy to make this recipe. 

At first we should boil the broccoli, and then cook them over low heat in a pan with the garlic, which we have browned previously. 

The secret of this dish is its creaminess.

We will blend half of the broccoli with some parmesan cheese and half a glass of cooking water.

We then combine everything with the pasta.

pasta with broccoli vegetarian

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.

Recipe Notes & Tips:

  • Don’t overcook the pasta, as there’s nothing worse than mushy pasta.
  • Reserve some of the pasta water before draining, as this will help to bring everything together.
  • If you like a little spice, add some crushed red pepper flakes.

What Goes Well With Broccoli?

This recipe is already super delicious on its own, but if you want to make it even more flavorful, then you can add some bacon or sausage, which you will brown with garlic before adding the boiled broccoli. 

A Sicilian secret is to add anchovies when you brown the garlic in the pan.

Is Broccoli A Superfood?

Yes, broccoli is known to be a hearty and tasty vegetable, packed with dozens of nutrients.

Broccoli is a great source of vitamins K and C, a good source of folate and also provides potassium.

Vitamin K – essential for the functioning of many proteins involved in blood clotting.

Vitamin C – builds collagen, which forms body tissue and bone, and helps heal cuts and wounds. 

Potassium – a mineral and electrolyte that is essential for nerve function and heart contraction.

Folate – is needed for the production and maintenance of new cells in the body.

Pasta With Broccoli: Super Creamy Recipe

pasta with broccoli

More Recipe You May Like:


broccoli pasta
Yield: Servings 2

Pasta With Broccoli Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

A delicious and easy recipe for pasta with broccoli!

Ingredients

  • 1 or 2 Heads of broccoli (depending on size)
  • 250g Pasta (I used Tagliatelle) (2 1/2 cup)
  • 2 Garlic cloves
  • 3 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • Red chilli pepper (optional)
  • 20g Parmesan cheese (1/4 cup)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. With a small knife, remove the leathery lower part of the stalk and divide into florets of the same size.
  2. Wash the broccoli under cold running water to remove impurities; Boil large pot of salted water and cook the broccoli for 10 minutes.*
  3. Meanwhile, cut the garlic into rounds and brown it in a large skillet with extra virgin olive oil. Add chilli pepper if you like.
  4. When the broccoli has softened, transfer it to the pan with the garlic.
  5. Let the broccoli cook on low heat for about 10 minutes. Break apart the broccoli with a spatula into tiny pieces. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  6. In the same pot where we cooked the broccoli, we cook the pasta.
  7. While the pasta is cooking, blend half of the broccoli and add parmesan cheese and 1 or 2 tablespoons of cooking water to smooth out the mixture.
  8. Drain the pasta slightly al dente and transfer it to the pan with the broccoli. Remember to save half a cup of pasta cooking water.
  9. Toss the pasta with the broccoli and add the broccoli creamy sauce that you prepared earlier and half a cup of the pasta cooking water.
  10. Mix well, and serve hot.


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.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

2

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 562Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 337mgCarbohydrates: 70gFiber: 15gSugar: 7gProtein: 20g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram and tag thebellavita_blog

Storage

I recommend eating the broccoli pasta as soon as it is prepared!

If it leftovers, you can keep it in the refrigerator for a day in an airtight container.

I don’t recommend freezing it.

Can you fry broccoli without boiling?

 Quickly boiling it in boiling water helps to give it a more tender and crispy texture and bring out its flavor.

How Long Does Broccoli Take To Boil?

In a large pot of water, when the water boils, pour in the broccoli and a little kosher sal.

Then cover the pot with a lid to bring it back to a boil faster.

Cook  10 minutes, the tops of the broccoli should remain intact.

What types of pasta can I use for this creamy broccoli pasta

All kinds of long pasta are fine, but short pasta like penne pasta is also great.

Recipe variations:

Add lemon: Make a tasty lemon broccoli pasta.

Add two tablespoons of lemon juice while cooking and finish with a sprinkle of lemon zest before serving, the lemon adds a extra flavor and a touch of freshness.

Baked version: Add cherry tomatoes cut in half, mozzarella cheese, a little béchamel sauce and a sprinkling of pecorino romano cheese or parmesan cheese on top and put in the oven. 

This version is perfect for busy weeknight, you can make it in advance and then put it in the oven when it’s time for dinner.

Use broccoli rabe instead of regular broccoli.

Add chicken breasts: For a complete and delicious meal add chicken to this easy broccoli pasta recipe.


Enjoy!

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Jennifer

Friday 21st of April 2023

Can you steam the broccoli instead of boiling directly in water?

Angie

Friday 21st of April 2023

Yes, 100 %

Tara

Monday 24th of October 2022

Has anyone ever tried roasting the broccoli in the oven (vs boiling)?

Angie

Monday 24th of October 2022

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.

amy liu dong

Friday 16th of September 2022

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.

Jessica

Friday 16th of September 2022

This is one of my family's favorite pasta recipes! We make it all the time and it's so delicious!

Swathi

Thursday 18th of August 2022

Broccoli easy pasta sounds not only delicious but also healthy and kids friendly version. Needs to try for my kids.

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