Easy And Yummy Broccoli Pasta Recipe

If you are looking for a quick meal that requires very few simple ingredients and one single pan to prepare, then this broccoli pasta recipe is perfect for you! Excellent to eat on its own, or paired with a delicious side dish or main course, this pasta recipe is versatile and easy, yet bursting with flavor and absolutely yummy!

Jump to:

• Broccoli Pasta Ingredients
• How to cook broccoli pasta?
• Video Recipe Broccoli Pasta Recipe
• People Also Ask [FAQs]
• Tips and Tricks for the Best Broccoli Pasta
• Recipe

As odd as this may sound, this broccoli pasta dish was my absolute favorite when visiting my grandmother after school during the week.

She would prepare it with spaghettini, which is simply thinner spaghetti, use loads of garlic and red pepper flakes, and, my-oh-my, it was always perfect!

This recipe is my own version of broccoli pasta, which is roughly the same, but I tend to use short shaped pasta, such as pasta shells, penne, tortiglioni, orecchiette, or fusilli, as I like how the broccoli florets bits get stuck in them, making them easy to eat together.

All you will need for this one-pot meal, is a large saucepan, pasta of choice, broccoli, extra virgin olive oil, red pepper flakes, garlic cloves, and seasoning. That's it!

Broccoli Pasta Ingredients

• Pasta: Choose your favorite pasta shape and cook following package directions.
• Broccoli: Fresh broccoli are best, however, frozen broccoli can be used instead.
• Garlic Cloves, and Red Pepper Flakes: The two main flavoring ingredients. You can use more or less of these, adapting the amount to your own personal taste.
• Olive Oil, Salt, and Black Pepper: Dressing and seasoning.

How to cook broccoli pasta?

1. Wash and chop the broccoli into bite-size pieces, separating the florets.
2. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil, and add the pasta and the broccoli. Depending on how firm you like your broccoli, you can add these before, at the same time, or after you add the pasta.
3. Once the broccoli pasta is cooked, drain and keep aside.

4. In the same saucepan, warm up the olive oil.
5. Once the oil is warm add the flaked chilies and chopped garlic and once the smell of rawness has gone add the broccoli pasta to it.
6. Season to taste and enjoy!

Video Recipe Broccoli Pasta Recipe

People Also Ask [FAQs]

Tips and Tricks for the Best Broccoli Pasta

• Say Cheese: Feel free to add some cheese to this recipe in any form you like. So far, the best cheeses I've tried are the saltier ones, as they contrast well the spiciness of the pepper flakes and the sweetness of the broccoli. Grated parmesan cheese, crumbled feta cheese, or a bit of pecorino work perfectly as a topping!
• Pasta Bake: If you prefer fresh mild cheese, then this broccoli pasta can be mixed with some diced mozzarella and popped in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts. To make this creamy broccoli pasta version even creamier, keep a bit of the pasta water so that it doesn't dry up too much in the oven.
• Bulk it up: If you like adding more vegetables to your pasta, great options are sundried tomato, pitted Kalamata olives, or grilled vegetables such as eggplant, peppers, or zucchini. All of these can be chopped up and added to the saucepan for the last 30 seconds of sauteing.
• Frozen Broccoli: Frozen broccoli can be used when fresh ones are not available. As for the pasta, follow the package direction on how to boil them and prepare the rest of the recipe as per the directions.
• Other Proteins: To make this a great lunchbox, you can top it up with some chopped grilled or roasted chicken or turkey, boiled eggs, or diced ham. For a great contrast, you can saute some bacon or pancetta when you add olive oil, garlic, and chili flakes.

You will love this recipe as it ticks all of the boxes:

• Quick (30-Minute recipe!)
• Easy
• Vegan
• Healthy
• Can be adapted to needs
• Tasty
• It requires few and cheap ingredients

What more can one ask for?

Get chopping, get boiling… start counting your 5-a-day!

🥗 Looking for more quick dinner ideas?

• Green Bean Pasta with Tuna
• Hibachi Fried Rice
• Lemon Zucchini Pasta Sauce with Feta
• Tomato and Tuna Pasta
• Simple Chicken Curry

Recipe