Description
Creamy Broccoli Pasta: Deliciously creamy pasta with tender broccoli florets, perfect for a quick, comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or spaghetti work beautifully)
- 1 large head broccoli (about 1½ pounds/680g), cut into small florets
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ lemon, juiced (about 1 tablespoon)
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the Pasta Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add your pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes. About 2 minutes before the pasta is finished, add the broccoli florets directly to the pasta water. This perfectly times the broccoli to be tender-crisp when the pasta is ready. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy cooking water, then drain the pasta and broccoli together.
- Step 2: Prepare the Creamy Sauce While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant but not browned—garlic can turn bitter when overcooked. Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Let the mixture bubble gently for about 3 minutes until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Step 3: Combine and Finish Add the drained pasta and broccoli directly to the skillet with the cream sauce. Sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes if using, and season with salt and black pepper. Toss everything together, gradually adding the reserved pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce that clings perfectly to every strand of pasta. The starch in the water helps emulsify the sauce, giving your Creamy Broccoli Pasta that restaurant-quality consistency. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to brighten all the flavors, then toss once more to incorporate.
- Step 4: Serve and Garnish Transfer your Creamy Broccoli Pasta to warmed serving bowls and top with an additional sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper. The contrast between the steaming pasta and the fresh cheese makes for an irresistible presentation. For added visual appeal and freshness, consider a light scatter of chopped parsley or basil. Serve immediately while the sauce is at its silky best and the pasta maintains its perfect texture.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 51g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 90mg