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    Home » Pasta

    Broccoli Pasta

    Published: Sep 12, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Broccoli pasta is a creamy and delicious pasta dish you can make with 6 simple ingredients and in about 20 minutes for weeknight dinners.

    We'll teach you how to make the creamiest broccoli sauce with minimal effort and turn it into a beautiful dish of pasta with broccoli.

    broccoli pasta
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storage
    • More pasta recipes
    • Recipe

    Check out our best pasta recipe collection!

    Pasta with broccoli is one of the tastiest, easiest, and creamiest pasta dishes you can make in under 20 minutes with six simple ingredients.

    It's almost like broccoli was made for this dish, and its flavor and texture couple perfectly with pasta cooked al dente.

    For this broccoli pasta recipe, we take inspiration from Italian cuisine. This dish is a staple in Italy, especially in the south, and you'll soon understand why!

    To make it, we boil the broccoli for just 5 minutes, drain them, and add them to a pan with extra virgin olive oil, grated garlic, and red pepper flakes. Then, we cook them in the skillet until they become soft and creamy, almost like pesto.

    In the meantime, we cook the pasta in broccoli water to infuse it with flavor. Then, finally, we toss it in the broccoli pasta sauce, and that's it!

    Optionally you can add parmesan cheese or not. The recipe will be delicious either way.

    A few dishes are as simple, tasty, quick, and healthy as this broccoli pasta. Let us know what you think!

    broccoli pasta

    Ingredients

    ingredients for pasta with broccoli

    Broccoli

    Use fresh broccoli for best results, although you can also use frozen ones if you have those in your freezer.

    We use the broccoli florets and the leaves, too, if some are attached to the broccoli head. We save the larger stems for our broccoli soup.

    Olive oil

    Use extra virgin olive oil for the best taste. Compared to regular olive oil, extra virgin is fruitier, nuttier, and more flavorful in general. It also contains a greater amount of antioxidants that make it that much healthier than most other oils.

    Garlic

    Fresh garlic is your only option here. Its sharp flavor is a perfect match with mellow creamy broccoli. Our tip is to grate it with a zester or small holes of a box grater so that it dissolves in the sauce.

    Red pepper flakes

    Pasta with broccoli shouldn't be very spicy, but a pinch or two of red pepper flakes help make this dish even tastier.

    Salt and pepper

    We use coarse sea salt to season the pasta water, fine sea salt or kosher salt for the broccoli sauce, and a generous grind of black pepper.

    Pasta

    We recommend a short pasta type here, such as orecchiette, farfalle, fusilli, conchiglie, penne, rotini, rigatoni, penner, etc.

    Whatever pasta you use, what's important is to cook it al dente, with a slight bite to it.

    Parmesan cheese

    Grated parmesan cheese or a dairy-free alternative is optional. With the cheese, the pasta will be a little tastier; however, without the cheese, this broccoli pasta is still absolutely delicious.

    The original Italian recipe is without parmesan cheese.

    pasta with broccoli in a bowl

    Instructions

    Step 1: Make the broccoli sauce

    Cut the broccoli into small florets and boil them in a large pot of salted water for 5 minutes, until fork tender but not fully cooked.

    Tip: we recommend cooking the broccoli (and the pasta) in 1 gallon (4 liters) of water seasoned with 1 ½ ( 30 grams) tablespoons of coarse sea salt or 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of fine sea salt.

    boiling the broccoli in water

    Take them out of the water with a slotted spoon (do not discard the water) and add them into a large skillet or dutch oven with extra virgin olive oil, grated garlic, salt, and red pepper flakes.

    broccoli in dutch oven with olive oil and garlic

    Add a ladleful of the reserved cooking water, then simmer the broccoli on medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until soft. Now, mash them with a fork to make a broccoli sauce.

    Tip: you can reserve a few florets for garnishing the pasta.

    broccoli sauce

    Step 2: Cook and toss the pasta

    While the broccoli sauce simmers, cook the pasta in the same large pot of water where you cooked the broccoli; it will infuse the pasta with extra flavor.

    Cook as per package instructions minus 1.5 minutes to keep the pasta very al dente.

    boiling pasta in the same pot

    Reserve one cup of pasta water before draining the pasta. Add the pasta to the broccoli sauce. Then, add one ladleful of reserved pasta water and the black pepper.

    pasta tossed into the broccoli sauce

    Finish cooking the pasta on medium heat for less than a minute while stirring and mixing it with the sauce. Add more reserved pasta water if necessary.

    You can add grated parmesan cheese or its dairy-free alternative if you like.

    Broccoli pasta is ready when the sauce is creamy and perfectly coats every pasta piece.

    broccoli pasta in dutch oven

    Serving suggestions

    Serve on a plate or in a pasta bowl and garnish with the reserved broccoli florets, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and, optionally, a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese (or dairy-free alternative).

    Some recipes suggest adding a squeeze of lemon juice and grated lemon zest on top. Feel free to do so if you like to add a fresh, zesty, and citrusy flavor.

    broccoli pasta recipe

    If you serve this dish as a main meal, like we usually do, then we recommend pairing it with something with protein. We have some plant-based, protein-rich meals for you:

    • Easy chickpea salad
    • Delicious tofu with mushroom recipe
    • Tofu with pizzaiola sauce
    • Lemon tofu (Italian-inspired)
    • Mediterranean-inspired cauliflower and lentil salad
    • Easy fried tofu cubes (you can toss them in with the pasta)
    • Quick air-fryer tofu cubes (you can toss them in with the pasta)
    • Marinated tofu
    • Chickpea Salad
    • Tofu Mushroom Recipe
    • Tofu with Pizzaiola Sauce
    • Lemon Tofu
    • Cauliflower Lentil Salad
    • Fried Tofu
    • Air Fryer Tofu
    • Marinated Tofu

    Storage

    As with most pasta recipes, this broccoli pasta is at its best if you eat it right off the skillet soon after making it.

    To store the leftovers, let the pasta cool down completely first, then transfer it into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Reheat in the microwave adding two tablespoons of water (the pasta with dry up in the fridge), or on a pan with a drizzle of olive oil.

    We don't recommend freezing this recipe.

    More pasta recipes

    Are you looking for more ideas for delicious pasta recipes? Check out our:

    • Incredible lentil bolognese
    • Our best vegan mushroom pasta
    • Creamy butternut squash pasta
    • Roasted red pepper pasta
    • Garlic and oil cauliflower pasta
    • Simple spaghetti pomodoro with fresh basil
    • Eggplant pasta (Italian pasta alla Norma)
    • Pasta with marinara sauce
    • Lentil bolognese
    • Vegan Mushroom Pasta
    • Butternut Squash Pasta
    • Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
    • Cauliflower Pasta
    • Spaghetti Pomodoro
    • Pasta alla Norma (Eggplant Pasta)
    • Marinara Sauce

    For many more pasta ideas, check out our pasta category page.

    Recipe

    broccoli pasta

    Broccoli Pasta

    Author: Nico
    Broccoli pasta is a creamy and delicious pasta dish you can make with 6 simple ingredients and in about 20 minutes for weeknight dinners.
    We'll teach you how to make the creamiest broccoli sauce with minimal effort and turn it into a beautiful dish of pasta with broccoli.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 7 votes
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Main, pasta
    Cuisine American Italian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 419 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 pound broccoli (about 1 large head or 2 small ones)
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 cloves garlic grated
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 12 ounces pasta orecchiette, rigatoni, fusilli, or other short pasta
    • 4 tablespoons parmesan cheese grated, or dairy-free alternative (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Cut broccoli into small florets and boil them in a large pot of salted water for 5 minutes.
      boiling the broccoli in water
    • Take them out of the water with a slotted spoon (do not discard the water) and add them into a large skillet with extra virgin olive oil, grated garlic, salt, and red pepper flakes.
      broccoli in dutch oven with olive oil and garlic
    • Add a ladleful of the reserved cooking water and simmer the broccoli on medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until soft. Mash them with a fork to make a broccoli sauce.
      Tip: you can reserve a few florets for garnishing the pasta.
      broccoli sauce
    • While the broccoli sauce simmers, cook the pasta in the same water where you cooked the broccoli.
      Cook as per package instructions minus 1½ minutes.
      boiling pasta in the same pot
    • Reserve one cup of pasta water, drain the pasta, and add it to the broccoli sauce. Add one ladleful of reserved pasta water and the black pepper.
      pasta tossed into the broccoli sauce
    • Finish cooking the pasta on medium heat for less than a minute while stirring and mixing it with the sauce.
      Add more reserved pasta water if necessary. You can add grated parmesan cheese or its dairy-free alternative if you like.
      broccoli pasta in dutch oven
    • Garnish with the reserved broccoli florets, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and, optionally, a sprinkle of cheese.
      broccoli pasta recipe

    Video Recipe

    Broccoli Pasta | 6 Ingredients and 20 minutes

    Notes

    Nutrition information is an estimate for one portion of broccoli pasta out of four without cheese.
    Tip: we recommend cooking the broccoli (and the pasta) in 1 gallon (4 liters) of water seasoned with 1 ½ ( 30 grams) tablespoons of coarse sea salt or 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of fine sea salt.
    Tip: you can make the recipe oil-free by omitting the oil and simmering the broccoli with water, garlic, salt, and red pepper flakes.
     

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Broccoli Pasta
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 419 Calories from Fat 81
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 9g14%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
    Monounsaturated Fat 5g
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Potassium 558mg16%
    Carbohydrates 72g24%
    Dietary Fiber 6g25%
    Sugar 4g4%
    Protein 14g28%
    Vitamin A 744IU15%
    Vitamin B6 0.3mg15%
    Vitamin C 102mg124%
    Vitamin E 2mg13%
    Vitamin K 120µg114%
    Calcium 75mg8%
    Folate 87µg22%
    Iron 2mg11%
    Manganese 1mg50%
    Magnesium 70mg18%
    Zinc 2mg13%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lorraine

      February 01, 2023 at 12:46 am

      5 stars
      My dear Mother made this on Friday nights during lent (we couldn’t eat meat then). She was from Sicily & a fantastic cook (mostly vegetarian). Her Papa was a vegetable farmer. This dish is hearty, warming, filling, & DELICIOUS. Now 4 out of 6 of us are vegetarian or vegan. Italian girls learn young how to make good & healthy food. It can also be served room temperature. I used bow ties. Enjoy

      Reply
      • Louise

        February 01, 2023 at 5:18 am

        Hi Lorraine,
        I'm so delighted you were able to enjoy this pasta as a family!
        Thank you so much for the serving tips and for taking the time to leave a comment.
        Kindest, Louise

        Reply
    2. Sam

      December 22, 2022 at 8:05 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing dish and so easy to make, I decided to lighten up the dish and not add the cheese, honestly I felt it was perfect without but I can imagine amazing with the cheese. I will be trying another recipe from this site soon!

      Reply
    3. Arthémisia

      November 21, 2022 at 8:21 pm

      5 stars
      Délicieux, facile à faire et économique !

      Reply
      • Nico

        November 22, 2022 at 6:11 am

        Salut Arthémisia, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment, I'm delighted you found the pasta tasty and easy to make! Merci beaucoup, Nico

        Reply
        • Milizza

          December 16, 2022 at 10:23 pm

          5 stars
          OMG - this was absolutely delicious! I loved that it was minimum ingredients- I unfortunately didn’t have any cheese so I used nutritional yeast and it was still really good!! Thanks so much for this easy recipe- so happy to have found you on Pinterest!! Keep it up!

          Reply
          • Louise

            December 17, 2022 at 7:02 am

            Hi Milizza, thank you for your kind comment, I'm really happy you like the pasta, good idea to add nutritional yeast. You're very welcome, it's our pleasure - enjoy your weekend! Kindest, Louise

            Reply
    4. Louis

      October 01, 2022 at 3:49 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious. Loved this recipe. Will be making it often. Wonderful flavors that blend so well. Thank you. Also fun to make.

      Reply
      • Nico

        October 01, 2022 at 5:14 am

        I'm so happy you liked it, Louis!! Thanks for leaving a comment, and have a great day! Cheers, Nico

        Reply

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