Broccoli Pasta is a healthy, flavorful, and delicious pasta made with just a few simple ingredients that I always have on hand. This nourishing, tasty dish works well as a side or main course in a vegetarian meal.
Do you want a fast meal or a vegetarian carb and veggie dinner? Include this in your menu. I highly recommend this nutritious pasta.
You can pack this for kids, office lunch, potluck, and picnic, not just lunch and dinner.
INGREDIENTS FOR BROCCOLI PASTA
Spaghetti: You can select any pasta you prefer, like angel hair, farfalle, spaghetti, fettuccine, or linguine, for this particular recipe.
Fat:
Mix olive oil and butter for a rich, aromatic flavor. To create vegan pasta, omit the butter, and use only olive oil.
Broccoli: Enhances pasta with color, nutrients, and earthy flavor. Fresh or frozen broccoli can be used.
Garlic: The finest taste emerges from finely chopped, fresh garlic sauteed in fat.
Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan is used, which complements the other ingredients very well.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE BROCCOLI PASTA
- Boil pasta till al dente as per package instructions. Keep 1 cup of cooking water.
- At the same time, in a big skillet without sticking, on medium heat, cook and stir garlic, broccoli, and kosher salt in 2 tablespoons of hot olive oil. Continue until broccoli is tender and garlic is slightly browned, around 5 minutes.
- Combine cooked pasta, remaining olive oil, red pepper flakes, and ¼ cup or more of reserved pasta water. Cook and stir until heated. Add salt and pepper for taste.
- Put in a serving bowl and serve with evenly sprinkled parmesan cheese on top.
PRO TIPS
- Enhance brightness using fresh lemon juice or a teaspoon or two of lemon zest.
- If you enjoy broccoli, increase the amount.
- Include remaining rotisserie chicken or sauté chopped chicken breast with garlic and broccoli in step 2 of the cooking instructions.
- Use torn basil leaves for herbal touch.
- Mix in chopped sun-dried tomatoes for more flavor.
- Substitute parmesan with crumbled feta or goat cheese.
FAQS
To make this pasta, you will use fresh broccoli, garlic cloves, olive oil, and butter, along with your preferred choice of pasta.
You can serve it as a vegetarian main course with crust French baguette, garlic knots, or garlic butter shrimp. You can also serve this as a side with your favorite meat.
Pasta is healthy with nutritious garlic and broccoli. Garlic boosts immunity, fights inflammation, and has antioxidants. Broccoli is vitamin-rich, mineral-rich, and fiber-rich, and aids digestion. Enjoy pasta with garlic and broccoli for a tasty, nourishing meal.
RECIPE CARD
BROCCOLI PASTA RECIPE
Ingredients
- 12 ounce Spaghetti or other long, thin pasta
- ¼ cup Olive oil divided
- 2 Large garlic cloves thinly sliced
- ½ pound Broccoli cut into small florets
- ¼ tsp Kosher salt + more If needed
- ½ tsp Red pepper flakes or more
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 ounce Finely grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Boil pasta till al dente as per package instructions. Keep 1 cup of cooking water.
- At the same time, in a big skillet without sticking, on medium heat, cook and stir garlic, broccoli, and kosher salt in 2 tablespoons of hot olive oil. Continue until broccoli is tender and garlic is slightly browned, around 5 minutes.
- Combine cooked pasta, remaining olive oil, red pepper flakes, and ¼ cup or more of reserved pasta water. Cook and stir until heated. Add salt and pepper for taste.
- Put in a serving bowl and serve with evenly sprinkled parmesan cheese on top.
Notes
- Enhance brightness using fresh lemon juice and/or a teaspoon or two of lemon zest.
- If you enjoy broccoli, increase the amount.
- Include remaining rotisserie chicken or sauté chopped chicken breast with garlic and broccoli in step 2 of the cooking instructions.
- Use torn basil leaves for herbal touch.
- Mix in chopped sun-dried tomatoes for more flavor.
- Substitute parmesan with crumbled feta or goat cheese.