Broccoli Pasta Recipe

I used to assume that spaghetti had to have a lot of cheese and cream to taste delicious. That’s how we always cooked it at home when I was a kid. I was a little unsure when my husband tried to throw in broccoli one night.

I was wrong about wanting all that cheese and cream. This broccoli pasta shows that you can produce a pretty good meal with just a few simple ingredients if you cook them well. And the best part? You won’t feel like you need to take a nap after it.

Why You Will Love This Pasta with Broccoli

Quick weeknight dinner: This pasta recipe is excellent for hectic nights when you want a filling supper but don’t have time to spend hours in the kitchen. It just takes 25 to 40 minutes to make.
Ingredients that won’t break the bank—This recipe is easy on your wallet and tastes fantastic with only a few simple pantry goods and fresh broccoli.
This pasta is healthier since it has a healthy balance of carbs and veggies. The whole grain pasta and fresh broccoli make it filling and nutritious.
Vegetables that kids will eat— The broccoli gets nice and soft and seasoned, making this a terrific method to persuade your family to eat their vegetables without any trouble.
Easy to clean up: You only need one pot for the pasta and one pan for the broccoli, so you’ll spend less time washing dishes and more time enjoying your supper.

Which Type of Broccoli Should I Use?

For this pasta recipe, regular green broccoli (also known as Calabrese broccoli) is great. If you like the milder, slightly sweeter taste of broccolini, you can use that instead. When you go to the store, look for broccoli heads that are dark green and have tight, compact florets. If they are fading or flowering, they are no longer fresh. Fresh broccoli florets are preferred for this recipe, but if you don’t have any, frozen ones can work well. Just know that they might be a little softer in the end. Cut your broccoli florets into pieces that are about the same size so they cook evenly. Don’t forget to use the stems, too; they’re absolutely OK to eat and add a wonderful crunch when sliced thinly.

Choices for Replacements

You may easily change this basic spaghetti meal to fit what you have on hand:

You can use cauliflower, broccolini, or even Brussels sprouts instead of broccoli. Cut them into pieces that are about the same size and cook them until they are tender-crisp.
Fusilli, rotini, or bow ties are all good choices for penne pasta. Whole wheat spaghetti or chickpea pasta are better for you. The cooking time on the packet may be different, so just check it.
Fresh Parmesan cheese tastes the best, but you may also use Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano. If you don’t want to use dairy, consider nutritional yeast. Start with 1/4 cup and add more to taste.
You can use standard olive oil instead of extra virgin, or even butter if you want. Avocado oil is a good choice if you want a distinct taste.
If you don’t have red pepper flakes, you may use a pinch of cayenne pepper instead. If you don’t want any heat, you can leave it out. Black pepper by itself works just fine.

Be Careful Not to Make These Mistakes When You Cook

Overcooking the broccoli is the worst thing you can do when making broccoli pasta. This can make it mushy and unappetizing. Instead, blanch it for 2 to 3 minutes, or until it is brilliant green and still a little crunchy. Not preserving enough pasta water before draining is another typical mistake. To make a silky sauce that coats your pasta flawlessly, save at least 1 cup of that starchy liquid. Add the garlic to the oil only after it has been heated over medium heat. This will keep it from burning, which makes it taste bad. Cook it for approximately 30 seconds, or until it smells good. To get the finest flavor, add the Parmesan cheese in two steps: half while tossing the hot pasta to provide a creamy coating, and the other half shortly before serving as a finishing touch.

Time and Difficulty

Time to Get Ready: 10–15 Minutes
Time to Cook: 15 to 25 Minutes
Total Time: 25–40 minutes
How Hard It Is: Easy

Things you need

1 big head of broccoli, cut into small pieces
2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
Three cloves of garlic, chopped finely
1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper
To taste, add salt and black pepper.
12 ounces of penne pasta
1 cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese

Step 1: Make the broccoli cook

Put a lot of salt in a big pot of water and bring it to a boil.

Add the broccoli and cook for about 5 minutes, or until it is soft.

When the broccoli is done cooking, put it in a bowl and save 1/2 cup of the water it cooked in for later.

Step 2: Get the Broccoli Mash ready

Put some olive oil in a skillet and cook it over medium heat.

Add the cooked broccoli and the water you saved from cooking it, along with the garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Stir the broccoli every now and then while it cooks for about 10 minutes, or until it is soft enough to mash with a spoon.

Step 3: Make the Pasta

Add the pasta of your choice to the saucepan with the broccoli water and cook it according to the package directions until it is al dente.

After the pasta has done cooking, drain it well.

Step 4: Mix the broccoli mash with the pasta

Put the pasta that has been drained into the skillet with the broccoli mash.

Add the Parmesan cheese and mix everything together until it is all mixed together.

If the sauce looks too thick, add a little bit of the leftover pasta water to make it thinner.

Step 5: Add seasoning and serve

If the pasta dish needs it, taste it and add more salt and pepper.

Serve right away, with additional Parmesan cheese on top for extra taste.

What goes well with broccoli pasta?

A few classic Italian-inspired sides go well with this easy broccoli spaghetti to make a complete supper. A fresh green salad with cherry tomatoes and a light vinaigrette is a terrific way to start a meal. Warm garlic bread on the side is also great for soaking up any extra olive oil and cheese from your spaghetti. Grilled chicken breast or Italian-style turkey meatballs are great ways to add protein to these flavors. You could also serve it with roasted cherry tomatoes or sautéed mushrooms on the side for a lighter option. This would add even more vegetables to your dish.

How to Store

Keep Fresh: Do you have any leftovers? Put the broccoli spaghetti in a container that won’t let air in and keep it in the fridge for up to four days. The tastes are even better after a day when everything has had time to mix. Keep in mind that pasta tends to soak up sauce over time, so you might want to add a little olive oil when you cook it up again.

If you’re planning your meals ahead of time, you may prepare the broccoli and pasta separately up to two days ahead of time. Put them in different containers in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, mix them together and heat them up with the garlic, olive oil, and cheese. This keeps the broccoli from being too mushy.

To bring your pasta back to life, cook it in a pan over medium heat with a little water or olive oil. Stir it every so often until it is hot all the way through. You can also put the bowl in the microwave for a few seconds and cover it. Heat it for 30 seconds at a time, stirring between each one.

Nutrition Estimate

Nutrition for the complete dish (without optional ingredients):

900 to 1100 calories
40 to 50 grams of protein
Fats: 50–60 g
Carbs: 90–100 g