Do you love comfort foods? This Cheesy and Creamy Broccoli Pasta Recipe is perfect for you! It is done in under 20 minutes & is so easy to make! Not to mention, there's 3 hidden veggies, making this a nutrient dense dish the whole family will love!
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If you love creamy comfort foods, you are going to absolutely love my Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe, Creamy Shrimp Linguine & Creamier Carbonara!
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Ingredients
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Yellow Onion
- Fresh Broccoli
- Garlic
- Heavy Cream
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Pasta Water
- Ditalini Pasta
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Sauté the chopped veggies.
Add in heavy cream & cheese.
Mix in the cooked pasta.
Serve & enjoy!
1. In a large skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and diced onion, sauté until translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt.
3. Stir in chopped broccoli and sauté for another 5 minutes, until the broccoli is tender yet still vibrant green. Add another teaspoon of salt.
4. Pour in the heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then add the shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir continuously until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a separate pot according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
6. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the broccoli and creamy sauce. Pour in the reserved pasta water and toss everything together gently until the pasta is well coated with the sauce.
7. Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the pasta and stir until the cheese is melted and incorporated.
8. Serve the creamy broccoli pasta immediately, garnished with additional parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper if desired. Enjoy!
Substitutions
Butter: Margarine or vegetable oil
Olive Oil: Avocado oil, Canola oil, vegetable oil, or sunflower oil
Yellow Onion: White onion or red onion
Fresh Broccoli: Frozen broccoli florets
Garlic: Garlic powder or garlic paste
Heavy Cream: Half-and-half (equal parts milk and cream), evaporated milk, or coconut cream (for non-dairy option)
Mozzarella Cheese: Provolone cheese or Monterey Jack cheese
Parmesan Cheese: Grana Padano or Pecorino Romano
Pasta Water: Reserved water from boiling pasta, or vegetable or chicken broth
Ditalini Pasta: Elbow macaroni or small shells (or any pasta you have on hand)
Equipment
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Large Skillet
Storage
Store creamy broccoli pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days, depending on the freshness of your ingredients.
Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of milk or broth to maintain creaminess.
Avoid freezing as dairy-based sauces can separate upon thawing.
3 Top Tips for Success
- Cook Pasta Al Dente: Ensure pasta is cooked al dente (firm to the bite) to prevent it from becoming mushy when mixed with the creamy sauce.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Use fresh broccoli and quality cheeses like mozzarella and Parmesan for optimal flavor and texture.
- Balance Creaminess: Gradually add heavy cream to achieve the desired creamy consistency without overwhelming the dish, ensuring it coats the pasta evenly.
FAQ's
Yes, boiling broccoli in pasta water is okay and can actually add flavor to both the broccoli and the pasta. It's a convenient way to save time and reduce cleanup while infusing the broccoli with some of the pasta's flavors. But for this recipe, it's not necessary because after sautéing the broccoli it will boil in the creamy pasta sauce!
Instead of cream, you can use alternatives like whole milk combined with a bit of butter or olive oil for richness, or cream cheese! These substitutes can mimic the creamy texture and flavor without using heavy cream. You can also make a homemade béchamel sauce!
Broccoli pasta typically consists of pasta (such as ditalini or other types), fresh broccoli florets, garlic, olive oil or butter, and often includes a creamy element like heavy cream or cheese (such as mozzarella and Parmesan) for richness and flavor. It's a comforting dish that combines pasta and vegetables with a creamy or cheesy sauce.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Creamy Broccoli Pasta:
Cheesy and Creamy Broccoli Pasta Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Butter
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 Yellow Onion
- 500 g Fresh Broccoli chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 2 cups Heavy Cream
- 8 oz Mozzarella Cheese
- 8 oz Parmesan Cheese
- ½ cup Pasta water
- 16 oz Ditalini Pasta
Instructions
- In a large skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and diced onion, sauté until translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt.
- Stir in chopped broccoli and sauté for another 5 minutes, until the broccoli is tender yet still vibrant green. Add another teaspoon of salt.
- Pour in the heavy cream. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then add the shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir continuously until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a separate pot according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the broccoli and creamy sauce. Pour in the reserved pasta water and toss everything together gently until the pasta is well coated with the sauce.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the pasta and stir until the cheese is melted and incorporated.
- Serve the creamy broccoli pasta immediately, garnished with additional parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper if desired. Enjoy!
Food safety
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
Kate
Made this tonight with my boyfriend. Had to substitute the heavy cream for double cream as we are in the UK. Turned out absolutely delicious, will be making again thank you ☺️
Maja Ilic
Yay!! That is so amazing to hear, thank you for sharing My sister actually lives in the UK and had to use double cream as well!!
Janis Olson
My daughter shared this recipe with me. I have all of the ingredients except for broccoli, but I do have a head of cauliflower. Do you think it would turn out okay if us used that instead?
Maja Ilic
Hey Janis! I think that would work great as well! Just make sure to cut up the cauliflower into super small pieces! Let me know how it turns out!
Terry
This is delicious. The only thing is the parmesan isn't said when to add other than sprinkle additional parmesan on top. I added it in with the heavy cream and mozzarella. This is a huge portion for 4 people and it needs a little more sauce.
Cynthia
Made this tonight. It was absolutely delicious. We all loved it! Definitely a keeper.
Larissa
Easy to make and really tasty!
Rosy Wilson
When chopping the broccoli in this recipe, do you use the whole broccoli, just the stem, just the florets, etc? Do you cut off the stalk? Sorry if this is a dumb question!