Broccoli, cheese, and pasta - that’s all you need to get started with our quick, easy, and super cheesy broccoli pasta recipe!
Pasta with broccoli is an incredibly simple dish to create. You need three basic ingredients (plus our recipe has a bonus pasta sauce), minimal kitchen time, and best of all, there’s very little to wash up at the end of the meal. We’re confident that you can have this dish prepared and ready to eat in 20 minutes (less, if you’re a kitchen whizz!).
First, get your homemade pasta ready (or if not - store bought pasta will do fine) as we show you the best way to prep broccoli pasta with cheddar and parmesan cheese!
Broccoli pasta recipe FAQ
Our pasta and broccoli recipe is super easy to prepare, and you’ll have dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes. There’s a lot more potential with this recipe, too, so here’s our quick FAQ!
What’s the best pasta to cook?
We suggest using short pasta - such as penne or fusilli - for this dish. However, this isn’t a must, and the dish turns out very well with long noodles, as well. Broccoli spaghetti is very good, as is fettuccine broccoli!
The quickest way to prepare broccoli pasta is with ready-made pasta, whether dried or fresh. If you have extra time on your hands, then it’s always possible to prepare handmade pasta using a pasta maker.
How do you stop the pasta from sticking?
Pasta chefs in kitchens across the world have their own tips, tricks, and methods when it comes to learning how to keep the pasta from sticking!
There are several ways to achieve this, but the most important ‘sticking’ point is to keep the pasta moving. Don’t allow it to sit for too long in the water while boiling; you need to keep stirring!
This is a quick recipe, but while the pasta cooks, you’ll be focusing on the sauce and chopping broccoli, so remember to stop and stir every few minutes (multitasking is key!).
What else goes well with broccoli pasta?
Broccoli and pasta are an effortless combination of ingredients to cook up, but if you’re looking for more layers of flavor or simply more vegetables for dinner, then trust us, there are a lot of other veggies to put in the pot!
To keep things easy, you ideally want to use ingredients that can also boil with the pasta (just as your broccoli does). Good examples include: cauliflower, carrots, leeks, peas, sweet corn, spinach, kale, bell peppers, and so on.
If you’ve got a little more time (or are good at multitasking), then sauteed vegetables are a great option too. This gives you the chance to saute the broccoli with mushrooms, bell peppers, chili peppers, onions, garlic, and so on.
Don’t forget, while we’ve kept this dish light and oily, it can easily be turned into a heavier (and much more filling) cream-based pasta dish. Prepare creamy broccoli pasta using heavy cream and added cheese!
What herbs go best with broccoli pasta?
Don’t be afraid to experiment with the herbs and spices when preparing broccoli pasta. We suggest adding mixed herbs in the recipe, a great all-rounder that gives the pasta that Italian flair.
Other options include the likes of basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and sage, amongst many more. If you enjoy spicy food, then extra red pepper flakes or a few fresh chilis are a fantastic way to add a little heat to this dish. Instead of using olive oil, try chili oil, too!
Can you steam broccoli over pasta?
The best way to cook the broccoli is with the pasta itself. This adds an excellent extra layer of flavor to the dish, as you’ll be cooking the two main ingredients together in the same pot.
It’s all about timing, though. You need to add the broccoli a few minutes before the pasta is cooked through. Leave it too late, and you’ll have mushy pasta or rock-solid broccoli. Likewise, adding the broccoli too early puts the proportions out, too!
How long does broccoli pasta last?
Like all pasta dishes, broccoli pasta is a meal that’s best enjoyed hot and fresh. However, our recipe makes enough for four portions, so if you do have any leftovers, place them in the refrigerator for later.
In the fridge, sealed broccoli pasta will last at least 48 hours. You can enjoy the leftovers cold or heat the pasta up on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Broccoli pasta: will you be trying this simple recipe?
There are quick and easy recipes, and then there’s broccoli pasta. This really is another level of easiness (as well as cheesiness!).
There’s so much that can be done with a simple meal of broccoli and pasta, too. You can prepare a light garlic broccoli pasta, for example, or you can go all out and add heavy cream and extra cheese for a seriously creamy broccoli pasta.
If you’re looking for easy pasta recipes to try, then why not bookmark our guide to preparing broccoli pasta?
Enjoyed this recipe? Check out our recipes taco spaghetti, fettuccine carbonara, or lasagna casserole!
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