Easy Broccoli Pasta
Published Apr 14, 2025
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Boiling the broccoli and pasta together in one pot of boiling water means they both come out tender and delicious at the same time. Add butter-toasted pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and lemon for a super simple family-friendly Easy Broccoli Pasta that takes less than 40 minutes.
This recipe has become a go-to for weeknights in my house! Pasta dinners are always an easy weeknight win, and I love that I don’t have to think of a side dish for this one because the veggies are cooked right alongside the pasta. The dish is finished with a buttery lemon sauce, crispy toasted pine nuts, and plenty of parmesan cheese. This is always a hit with kids and adults alike.
If you love a comforting pasta dish as much as we do, try Spinach Pesto Pasta, Pasta with Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta, Instant Pot Italian Sausage Pasta, and Spinach and Artichoke Baked Pasta.
Why You’ll Love It
This recipe comes together using just two dishes in just over 30 minutes. Most of the cooking time is fairly hands-off, too, leaving you lots of time to prepare a protein if you’d like to serve the pasta on the side – Broiled Paprika Salmon or Blackened Chicken are my favorites here.
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Pin It NowIngredients
- Broccoli – Use 2 medium broccoli heads, which equals about 1 ½ pounds of broccoli. Or, save time, and pick up a 10-ounce bag of pre-chopped florets.
- Pasta – Use any dried pasta you like best. I prefer pipe rigate or shells for this recipe.
- Butter and Olive Oil – Forms a rich sauce. I recommend using unsalted butter so you have better control of the flavor.
- Pine Nuts – Once toasted, these have a rich, nutty taste that complements the buttery sauce so well. That said, other nuts or seeds such as walnuts, pecans, or toasted sunflower seeds would all work.
- Lemon – Use both the lemon zest and lemon juice to add a bright taste to the butter sauce, balancing some of the richness.
- Parmesan Cheese – This hard, dry Italian cheese adds just the right amount of salty flavor and gooey texture. For the best taste and texture, buy a block of cheese, and grate it yourself.
How to Make an Easy Broccoli Pasta Recipe
- Prepare the Broccoli – Slice off the broccoli stems, and chop the florets into bite-sized pieces so that they’re roughly the same shape as the pasta.
- Cook – Cook butter and olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat until the mixture begins to foam and then subsides. Then, stir in the pine nuts, and cook, stirring constantly, until they are golden brown. Stir in the garlic, and cook until fragrant. Then, move the pan from the heat.
- Cook the Pasta and Broccoli – Cook the pasta in a pot of salted water according to the package instructions. When there are three minutes remaining, add the broccoli pieces. Drain the water, and transfer the pasta and broccoli to a large bowl.
- Combine – Pour the butter mixture on top, add the lemon zest and juice, and gently stir to combine. Next, stir in part of the parmesan.
- Serve – Transfer the mixture to a serving plate or bowl and top with the remaining parmesan. Enjoy warm!
Possible Variations
- Spice – Include a dash of red pepper flakes for a kick of heat.
- Veggies – Swap out or add to the broccoli with veggies like cauliflower, spinach, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and peas. If using anything other than cauliflower, skip boiling, and sauté instead.
- Protein – Include cooked chicken, ground beef, ground turkey, sausage, or shrimp for a filling, complete meal.
- Cheese – Swap the parmesan with cheddar cheese or mozzarella for a slightly different taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Avoid overcooking the broccoli by adding it to the pasta water just three minutes before draining. This will help keep it al dente, preventing it from turning mushy.
Once cool, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
I don’t recommend it! The taste and texture will change once thawed, becoming mushy.
When ready to eat, warm leftovers in the microwave gently covered with a lid. Or, warm them in a skillet over medium heat with a bit of water to freshen the pasta back up.
More Easy Broccoli Recipes
Favorite Tools
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Lemony Broccoli Pasta with Butter-Toasted Pine Nuts
Equipment
- Stockpot
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Small Skillet
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 2 medium broccoli heads (about 1 1/2 pounds, or use 10 ounces pre-chopped florets)
- 12 ounces dried pasta (I like pipe rigate or shells)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup pine nuts
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 lemon, juice and zest
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water. Season the water generously with salt. It’s especially important that you season the water well in this recipe because the salted water is going to be the primary thing that seasons both the pasta and the broccoli. Bring the water to a boil.
- Slice off and discard the stem of the broccoli heads. Chop the florets into bite-sized pieces.(Note: If using pre-chopped florets, you’ll likely need to chop these down into smaller pieces.) You want the broccoli florets to be about the same size as the shape of pasta you’re using.
- Heat a small skillet with the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Cook these together until the butter foams and then the foaming subsides, about 5 minutes. Then stir in the pine nuts and cook, stirring constantly, until the pine nuts are golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes more. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant. Move the pan off the heat.
- At this point the water for the pasta should be boiling. Add the pasta and set a timer according to the recommended cook time on the package. When there are 3 minutes remaining, add the broccoli florets and simmer them with the pasta. Drain the pasta and broccoli and transfer them to a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the butter, olive oil, and pine nuts over the pasta. Add the lemon zest and juice and gently stir everything together until combined. Stir in about 3/4 cup of the parmesan cheese (you can just eyeball it).
- Transfer the pasta to a serving plate or bowl and top it with the remaining parmesan. Serve warm.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
