PrintOne-Pot Creamy Healthy Broccoli Pasta
This is a quick, one-pot recipe for creamy broccoli pasta that tastes rich but stays light. It is perfect for busy weeknights and delivers comfort food flavor without complicated steps.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 25 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (penne or rotini work well)
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 4 cups water or vegetable broth
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or evaporated milk
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
Instructions
- Place the pasta, broccoli florets, water or broth, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) into a large pot or Dutch oven.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom.
- Check the pasta for doneness; it should be tender and most of the liquid should be absorbed.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream (or evaporated milk), Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and lemon juice until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Taste the pasta and add more salt or pepper if needed.
- Serve this easy broccoli pasta immediately for a satisfying weeknight pasta meal.
Notes
- For a cheesier version, substitute 1/4 cup of the cream with cream cheese or use a sharp cheddar cheese instead of Parmesan.
- If you prefer a lighter sauce without dairy, you can substitute the cream with 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water mixed with 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast for a vegan option.
- To make this a complete meal, add cooked chicken or white beans during the last five minutes of cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 580
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 9
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 80
- Fiber: 8
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 35