Do you love creamy comfort foods? This creamy broccoli pasta recipe is one of my favorite quick recipes for busy weeknights or cozy Friday nights. It’s done in under 20 minutes with just a few main ingredients. The flavorful cream sauce is cheesy, garlicky, and tossed with fresh broccoli florets, making it a delicious pasta dish the whole family will love!
If you enjoy simple pasta recipes, don’t miss my Marry Me Chicken Pasta Recipe, Creamy Shrimp Linguine & Creamier Carbonara!
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Ingredients
- Butter
- Olive oil (or extra virgin olive oil)
- Yellow onion
- Fresh garlic
- Fresh broccoli (cut into small florets)
- Heavy cream
- Mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Pasta water (reserved)
- Ditalini pasta (or your favorite type of pasta)
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions & Video
Sauté the chopped veggies.
Add in heavy cream & cheese.
Mix in the cooked pasta.
Serve & enjoy!
- In a large skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and diced onion, and sauté until translucent (about 5–7 minutes). Season with salt.
- Stir in the chopped broccoli florets and sauté for another 5 minutes until tender yet still vibrant green. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and optional Italian seasoning.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in shredded mozzarella until melted into a smooth, creamy sauce. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Add the cooked pasta into the skillet with the broccoli and sauce. Stir in the reserved pasta water a bit at a time until there’s enough sauce to coat the pasta evenly.
- Remove from heat, sprinkle with grated Parmesan (or Pecorino cheese) to turn it into the ultimate parmesan pasta, and toss gently until combined.
- Serve this easy broccoli pasta hot with extra Parmesan & black pepper!
Scroll all the way down for the recipe card!
Substitutions
- Butter → margarine or vegetable oil
- Olive oil → avocado, canola, or sunflower oil
- Yellow onion → white or red onion
- Fresh broccoli → frozen broccoli florets
- Garlic → garlic powder or paste
- Heavy cream → half-and-half, evaporated milk, or coconut cream
- Mozzarella → provolone or Monterey Jack
- Parmesan → Grana Padano or Pecorino Romano
- Ditalini pasta → elbow macaroni, small shells, or any dry pasta you have
Equipment
- Knife & cutting board
- Large skillet
- Large pot of water for pasta
Storage
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2–3 days.
- Reheat gently over low heat on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of milk or broth.
- Avoid freezing since the creamy sauce may separate.
3 Top Tips for Success
- Cook pasta al dente to prevent mushy noodles when tossed in the sauce.
- Use fresh ingredients like broccoli and quality cheeses for the best flavor.
- Balance creaminess by adding just enough sauce with a bit of water (reserved pasta water) so it clings perfectly.
FAQ's
Yes, boiling broccoli in the same pot as pasta is fine—it saves cook time and reduces dishes. For this recipe, sautéing in the skillet builds more flavor for the sauce.
Try whole milk with butter, cream cheese, or even a quick béchamel sauce. Non-dairy? Go with coconut cream for a rich texture.
Definitely! This creamy broccoli pasta recipe has a cheesy flavor that hides the veggies well, making it perfect for picky eaters and family dinners.
Related
Looking for other quick recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite desserts to serve with Creamy Broccoli Pasta:
Cheesy and Creamy Broccoli Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- 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! (Watch video below!)
Notes
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 says
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 says
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!!
Laura says
This was delicious! Found on tiktok and had to make. Will be making it again soon.
Janis Olson says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Made this tonight. It was absolutely delicious. We all loved it! Definitely a keeper.
Larissa says
Easy to make and really tasty!
Rosy Wilson says
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!
Di says
Easy & Delicious! Used noodles I had on hand, Wil make it again
Maja Ilic says
Aw thank you so much! I’m so glad you liked it! ♥️♥️
Lauren says
Made it without Parmesan due to a histamine intolerance and still was absolutely delicious!
Monica says
It was very good I loved the recipe
Cayela says
Great recipe that I used as a sort of guide. The portions are huge so I cut it down some. I think it needed more seasonings so I personally added some black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, garlic & herb and italian seasoning. Came out great.