Creamy Broccoli Pasta

Perfectly sautéed broccoli and mini shells are tossed together in a rich parmesan cheese sauce to make this yummy Creamy Broccoli Pasta! It’s a quick and easy family favorite that comes together in just under 30 minutes! 

Creamy Broccoli Pasta Recipe

If you like Alfredo and broccoli seasoned with garlic then you are going to love this creamy broccoli pasta recipe! It’s basically all the best parts of a cheesy pasta Alfredo combined together with all the flavors of a dish like my Roasted Broccoli. Yet, in this case, the broccoli is sautéed in the same pan that the sauce is made, which makes this dish super easy to make and even tastier.

And even better, this recipe is a fantastic vegetarian meal option. So if you’re trying to eat a little more meat-free this pasta recipe is a great choice. It’s so delicious that your family won’t even miss the meat. The cheesy sauce and perfectly seasoned broccoli make the dish on their own. However, if you want to add some protein, go for it! It’s easy to do and my Lemon Pepper Chicken is amazing when paired with this pasta.

• Mini Shells – I used mini shells, but you can use any type of small-shaped pasta you like including gluten-free pasta varieties. 
• Broccoli – Fresh broccoli is the best option, but frozen will work if that is all you’ve got on hand.
• Olive Oil – I use extra virgin olive oil for the added flavor but vegetable oil can be used if you prefer. 
• Butter – Always use unsalted butter in cooking unless a recipe states otherwise. This is to help control the amount of added salt.
• Onion – Brown and yellow onion will add the most flavor in pasta recipes. 
• Garlic – You should always mince your own fresh garlic cloves. Store-bought jarred garlic will work but it can sometimes have a bitter taste.
• Italian Seasoning – This mix of dried herbs is typically a blend of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. If you don’t have any Italian seasoning, you can just use a combination of whatever you have on hand. 
• Red Pepper Flakes – Used to add a bit of spice. However, you can omit this ingredient or add even more.
• Salt – Used to season the pasta cooking water and the dish.
• Black Pepper – Use fresh ground black pepper if you have it on hand. 
• Heavy Cream – Also called whipping cream, makes the pasta rich and creamy. 
• Parmesan Cheese – Use to make the sauce cheesy and garnish the dish at the end.

How To Make Creamy Broccoli Pasta

This recipe takes very little effort! All you have to do is saute some broccoli and make a 5-minute creamy parmesan sauce while the pasta is cooking. Just follow these easy steps and you’ll have dinner on the table in just about 30 minutes!

Cook The Pasta

To begin, you first need to cook the shells. So bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil. Now, add the pasta and cook it according to the package instructions until al dente. Then when it’s done, reserve one cup of the cooking water and drain the pasta. Now, set the water and pasta aside for a later step.

Sauté The Onion And Garlic

You can begin this step while the shells are cooking. First, heat the olive oil and butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Then once the butter has melted add the onion and cook it for about 3 minutes until it’s soft and translucent. Now, add the minced garlic and cook it for just 30 seconds until it’s aromatic.

Sauté The Broccoli

Next, you’ll need to cook the broccoli before you can make the sauce. Add the florets to the skillet along with the Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Then stir everything together and cook the broccoli for 5 minutes or until it softens up a bit. 

Finish The Dish

After the broccoli is cooked, pour the heavy cream into the skillet along with 1⁄2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Then bring the mixture to a boil. Now, turn the heat down to a simmer and let it cook for 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Finally, add the parmesan cheese and cooked shells to the broccoli mixture and toss everything together. Then cook for one more minute to meld all the flavors.

Garnish And Serve

Once the shells are fully coated in sauce and the dish is complete, transfer the creamy broccoli pasta to your serving dish of choice. Then garnish it with some more freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve with some of my yummy Garlic Bread if you like.

What Can I Use Instead Of Cream For Creamy Pasta?

Heavy cream is always the best choice. However, you can use half and half instead. Yet, it won’t thicken up as much. The other option is to use regular milk or even dairy-free milk and then thicken it with flour or cornstarch. That being said, you’ll need to whisk the flour or cornstarch together with the milk before you add it to the sauce.  

Why Is My Pasta Dry?

If you have too much pasta and not enough sauce the dish will be dry. You can fix this by mixing in a little more reserved pasta water or heavy cream to add some moisture. I also suggest that you only add about 80% of the pasta to the broccoli mixture at first. Then add more if you’ve got enough sauce.

Storage

Creamy broccoli pasta leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container. To reheat, just sprinkle it with a bit of water or milk to loosen it up a bit. Then put it in the microwave for a few minutes on medium power or reheat it on the stove over medium-low heat. 

Other Delicious Pasta Recipes To Try

• Creamy Garlic Butter Spaghetti
• Pasta Alla Norma
• Greek Chicken Pasta
• One Pot Creamy Parmesan Pasta
• Chili Mac And Cheese