Discover the recipe for an incredibly delicious pasta with broccoli in a creamy, flavorful sauce. The dish is simple and quick to prepare, making it almost perfect 😉 Broccoli is a fantastic, healthy vegetable and is absolutely perfect for a tasty dinner. I believe that this pasta will appeal to both children and adults. While the ingredients are not fancy and widely available, simplicity is its strength. Be sure to try this recipe.
I made this pasta with broccoli in creamy sauce for my parents, and they really enjoyed it. There’s never a problem with my mom – she loves vegetable dishes, while my dad prefers meals with meat, so I was a bit worried if he would like it. But this pasta is so good that he didn’t complain and happily ate everything.
But first, watch this video with the recipe for creamy broccoli pasta and see how easy it is to make:
What do you need to make creamy broccoli pasta:
Broccoli – To make the dish, you will need one large broccoli head, weighing approximately 450-500 grams (about 1-1.1 pounds for our American friends).
When choosing broccoli for your pasta dish, look for a head that is firm, with tightly packed florets and a deep green color. Avoid any broccoli with yellowing or wilting florets, as this may indicate it’s not fresh. The stem should also be firm and not too woody. Additionally, check for any signs of discoloration or dark spots on the broccoli. Opt for a head that feels heavy for its size, indicating freshness. Choosing a vibrant and crisp broccoli will ensure that your pasta dish is made with the best quality ingredients.
Pasta – Choose any of your favorite pasta types. For this dish, both short pasta like penne, orecchiette, rigatoni, and long pasta such as spaghetti, tagliatelle are suitable. When choosing good pasta, it’s worthwhile to pay attention to the rough texture and opt for reputable brands like Barilla. The rough surface texture helps the pasta cling better to sauces, enhancing the overall dining experience
Other ingredients: heavy cream, garlic, chicken or vegetable broth, unsalted butter, and mature cheese such as Grana Padano or Parmesan.
Creamy Broccoli Pasta. Step by Step.
STEP 1.
Cut broccoli florets into small pieces. Slice one floret into at least 3 pieces. Cook your chosen favorite pasta in salted water. I recommend cooking the pasta al dente. Drain the cooked pasta and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process. At the end of cooking the pasta, save some water – about half a cup – as it may come in handy later.
STEP 2.
In a pan, melt butter and add finely chopped or grated garlic cloves. Sauté for about half a minute, then pour in the cream and broth. Add dried thyme, pepper, and salt. Stir everything together. Once the cream with broth comes to a boil, add broccoli pieces and simmer covered for about 5 minutes. Cook for a few more minutes for the sauce to thicken properly.
STEP 3.
Next, add the previously cooked pasta and mix everything well. Finally, sprinkle with grated Parmesan or Grana Padano cheese. You can also add finely chopped parsley. If necessary, you can add pasta water.
Creamy Broccoli Pasta. Printable Recipe:
Creamy Broccoli Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound / 450-500 g broccoli (two medium heads)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup/250 ml heavy cream
- 2/3 cup / 160 ml chicken/veg broth
- 1 cup/80 grams freshly grated parmesan cheese
- parsley
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp dried thyme
Instructions
- Cut broccoli florets into small pieces. Slice one floret into at least 3 pieces. Cook your chosen favorite pasta in salted water. I recommend cooking the pasta al dente. Drain the cooked pasta and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process. At the end of cooking the pasta, save some water – about half a cup – as it may come in handy later.
- In a pan, melt butter and add finely chopped or grated garlic cloves. Sauté for about half a minute, then pour in the cream and broth. Add dried thyme, pepper, and salt. Stir everything together. Once the cream with broth comes to a boil, add broccoli pieces and simmer covered for about 5 minutes. Cook for a few more minutes for the sauce to thicken properly.
- Next, add the previously cooked pasta and mix everything well. Finally, sprinkle with grated Parmesan or Grana Padano cheese. You can also add finely chopped parsley. If necessary, you can add pasta water.
