This is one of my best emergency quick dinner ideas and 2-in-1 veg plus carb side dish. Broccoli, pasta and not much else, it’s a little bit lemony, a little bit cheesy and a whole lot of yum. The broccoli is cooked with the pasta then stirred vigorously with sauce to make it juicy and saucy
Add this to your arsenal of broccoli recipes – this one is a keeper!
Super QUICK broccoli pasta!
If you dream of 12 minute dinner magic, you’re going to love this broccoli recipe as much as I do. It’s for all those days when:
you’re staring at broccoli with not much else in the pantry, wondering how on earth you’re going to transform that into a totally delicious meal;
it’s a mad house and you just need to get dinner on the table, stat!
you want to hide a LOT of broccoli in something that everyone will love. There’s 2 whole heads in this – but it definitely doesn’t seem like it!
you’re after a quick side dish to serve with that charcoal chook you picked up enroute home, the sticky chicken thighs or crispy pan fried fish you’re making, those marinated pork chops or the garlic butter mushrooms you’re roasting in the oven.
It’s also what you make when you’re a food blogger who can’t resist a bargain and “accidentally” brought home SIX heads of broccoli…..😂
What goes in broccoli pasta
Here’s what all you need to make this:
Broccoli – TWO BIG HEADS!
Some kind of pasta – preferably short, but even long will work
Some kind of cheese – either parmesan or something that can melt into the sauce (both is the best case scenario)
Some kind of fat – preferably extra virgin olive oil, otherwise normal olive oil or butter
So even if you have just the above 4 ingredients, your broccoli pasta is still going to be very tasty – everything else I use is a flavour bonus!
I love using lemon in this recipe – but it’s optional. It’s not a strong tangy lemon flavour, it’s in the background and helps create more sauce to toss through the pasta without adding tons of oil.
12 minute broccoli recipe!
This is not a Jamie Oliver 15 Minute Meals type recipe where you use every appliance, pot and pan in your kitchen and it’s a whirlwind of frantic chaos for 15 30 minutes then you spend a good 40 minutes cleaning up afterwards.
No no no! This is a totally effortless 12 minute recipe with a great flow to it. Here’s how it goes down:
Cook pasta per the packet directions.
Chop & cook broccoli – While the pasta is cooking, chop the broccoli then add it into the water when the pasta is 2 minutes from being done.
Make sauce – Make the simple lemony pasta sauce
Scoop out 1 cup pasta cooking water <– KEY STEP! This is how we make plenty of sauce without using tons of oil! Add 1/2 cup of this into the sauce and shake (reserve the rest of the water for later in case you need it).
Put everything in pot – Drain the pasta and return to the same pot. Add the Sauce and cheese,
Toss the pasta, sauce, water and cheese until it’s nice and juicy. Then DEVOUR!!
I always struggle to capture how juicy pastas like this are – when the sauce is clear rather than bright red and meaty like Bolognese. If you’re not convinced with the photos, watch the quick recipe video below!
I haven’t loaded this Broccoli Pasta with tons of cheese. I use it more to create the sauce, rather than making this a really cheesy pasta. Also an attempt to keep the calorie count to a respectable level for a big bowl.
However, this Cheese-Loving Carb Monster will certainly not judge if you choose to be (way) more generous with the cheese.
Go on, do it, do it, do it! *she whispers cheekily in your ear* 😂 ~ Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Really Quick Broccoli Pasta
Ingredients
- 350g / 12 oz dried short pasta (I used small shells)
- 2 broccoli heads (BIG!)
- 1 cup shredded cheese (or more!)
Pasta Sauce (Notes for subs):
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (or more!)
- 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup parmesan , finely grated
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 tsp mixed dried herbs (or fresh!)
- 1/2 tsp+ red pepper flakes (add more if you want spicy!)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Serving:
- More parmesan
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil a large pot of water with 2 tsp salt, add pasta.
While pasta is cooking:
- Chop broccoli: Chop broccoli into small florets.
- Cook broccoli: Add broccoli into water 1 – 2 minutes before pasta is cooked.
- Sauce ingredients in jar: Place Sauce ingredients in a jar with lid.
- Reserve pasta water: SCOOP OUT 1 cup pasta cooking water just before draining. Then drain and return pasta back into same pot on turned off stove.
- Add pasta water into Sauce: Add 1/2 cup pasta water to Pasta Sauce jar, shake well.
- Add Sauce & Cheese to pasta: Pour Sauce and add cheese into pot with pasta.
- Stir then serve! Stir vigorously, adding more pasta water if required. Add more salt and pepper if required. Serve immediately, garnished with parmesan.
Recipe Notes:
- Pasta – any short pasta is fine here, macaroni/elbow, twirls, penne, ziti, orecchiette etc.
- Broccoli – this dish can take loads of broccoli, and still worth making even if you’re a bit short (or scale recipe down – click on servings and slide).
- Cheese – any melting cheese fine here, preferably flavoured like cheddar, Monterey Jack, tasty, gruyere, Swiss. Mozzarella also fine but you’ll probably need more salt.
- Parmesan – store bought pre grated fine in this recipe. OK if you don’t have (as long as you have shredded cheese!)
- Lemon – not intended to be a full on lemon pasta, but the subtle tang and hint of lemon is terrific. Feel free to jack up the lemon flavour. Subs: 1.5 tbsp more oil or a mild vinegar like white wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, even rice wine.
- Garlic – could stir through green onions instead, or add 1/2 tsp garlic or onion powder into Sauce. OR finely grate any onion and add 2 tbsp it into dressing (juices and all).
- Herbs – mixed herbs includes a bit of rosemary, thyme, parsley, oregano, dried basil. Feel free to use any you want, skip it, OR use fresh herbs
- 1/2 cup sliced fresh basil right at the end would be amazing
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup chives, parsley
- 2 tbsp oregano
- Red pepper flakes – for touch of heat, totally optional
- Sugar – totally optional (takes edge off the sour)
Nutrition Information:
Originally published April 2019. Post refreshed in October 2021 along with new video edits. No change to recipe – I wouldn’t dare touch it!
More broccoli recipes
I’m a big fan of broccoli so I’ve shared quite a few recipes. Love the flavour, how versatile it is and it’s good for you!
Chicken broccoli rice casserole – tastes like a cheesy risotto, but so much easier to make!
Broccoli gratin – creamy yet no cream with a golden crunchy top
Browse all Broccoli recipes
Life of Dozer
Dozer on the RIGHT side of the counter at Pet-O! I swear that place is Disney Land for dogs. He gets lavished with attention by everyone who works there, sooo many treats, then he runs around like a loon in the warehouse, grabbing toys and treats off the shelves, leaving me with no option other than to buy them.
I grumble and complain every time I spend way more than intended, and yet the thought of leaving him at home to go to the pet store without him never crosses my mind (and the one time I had to, the staff were very concerned about his well being!).
This was absolutely delicious and so easy to make. I used fresh parsley and thyme, white wine vinegar and mozzarella & pecorino romano because that’s what I had at home. The fridge was empty only a broccoli left and I was still able to make a fantastic lunch! I also used the stem of the broccoli just cut it up into tiny pieces and added it a minute or two before the florets. No waste!
I’ve made this before and it was ok but tonight I made it and OMG it was so good! I must have followed the recipe better this time because it was to die for, my whole family couldn’t eat enough of it! Thanks for another ripper Nagi 🙂
This pasta is a hit! Simple yet so delicious. I’ll definitely be making it again soon. – Fation from http://www.pastadaily.com
Cooked this tonight! Definitely great way of using broccoli. Done in less than 20 minutes. Great flavor! Grated the parmesan myself which made the sauce a bit thicker, but easily fixed by adding more pasta water and oil. Will try with butter and vinegar next time!
Hi Nagi, thank you for such a yummy recipe. This is super quick, which is great for a busy week day. The sauce is not overpowering but gives the pasta a nice boost! Thank you for such fast and delicious recipes.
Hi Nagi, thank you for another yummy recipe. This was super quick! It is an great meal for a busy week day. The sauce was just perfect, not overpowering but gave the pasta a nice boost! Thank you so much for such quick and yummy recipes.
Perfect as all Nagi’s recipes are. Added extra garlic. Tomorrow I’ll be keeping all the vampires away 😆.
This has become a go-to recipe. The one change I make is to cut off the stems very close to the florets, chop them into small chunks, and add them six minutes before the pasta is done and add the florets two minutes before the pasta is done.
Easy, and super duper good
Pasta contributes to human wellness by providing energy from complex carbohydrates, supporting a balanced diet with essential nutrients, and promoting satiety. Enjoyed in moderation, it complements a healthy lifestyle.
This was very simple & good! It was fast & easy to clean up. Your video was perfect: right to the point. We’ll definitely make this again. Thank you.
This recipe tasted fine, but the sauce was like water (we added far less than the instructed 1/2 cup of pasta water)- we had to use heat and cornstarch. The broccoli ratio was also way off. Tasted great, but needs adaptations
This is so easy and quick to make and has restaurant quality flavours from a few ingredients. I make it off by heart now just for myself whenever we decide to snack for dinner as my husband hates pasta 🤣
Forgot the lemon juice and added bacon (shhh) was really delicious, will be making again.
Struggling with cooking mojo… or all mojo in general at the moment. Saw this on the front page of your site this week and figured I could manage it. I did and it was delicious! Thank you
This was delicious! My 8yo daughter has never liked broccoli, or any vegetable but she actually liked this pasta. This will go on repeat for us. Thank you!
Thank you, Nagi! Loved the recipe! The sauce is fantastic!
I love broccoli. I love pasta. I love lemony chilli garlicky flavours. Needless to say this recipe is quickly becoming a weekly staple. Thanks for another winner!
WOW! This feels like healthy comfort food. Even the super-fussy one in the house liked it and would eat it again. High praise indeed!!!
This is going into the rotation for sure! Thanks once again Nagi ❤️
This recipe has become a staple when I need simple, quick and delicious with zing that is even better out of the fridge the next day. It just rocks 👍
…and five stars for the deviation 🙃😆