Description

This Really Quick Broccoli Pasta is a delightful and speedy dinner option combining tender pasta shells with fresh broccoli florets and a bright, zesty lemon-garlic sauce. Enhanced with a blend of shredded cheese and Parmesan, this dish bursts with flavor and comes together in under 30 minutes, perfect for a nutritious weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta and Vegetables

350g / 12 oz dried short pasta (small shells recommended)
2 large broccoli heads

Sauce

1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or any preferred cheese)
2 tsp lemon zest
2 tbsp lemon juice (or more to taste)
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup Parmesan, finely grated
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp mixed dried herbs (or fresh herbs)
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (add more if you want it spicy)
1 tsp sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Garnish

More Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil by adding 2 tsp salt. Add the dried short pasta and cook according to package instructions until just tender.
Chop broccoli: While the pasta cooks, cut the broccoli heads into small, bite-sized florets to ensure quick and even cooking.
Cook broccoli: About 1 to 2 minutes before the pasta finishes cooking, add the broccoli florets directly into the boiling pasta water to cook until tender-crisp.
Prepare sauce ingredients: In a jar with a lid, combine shredded cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, Parmesan, minced garlic, mixed dried herbs, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt, and pepper. Seal the jar to mix later.
Reserve pasta water: Just before draining, scoop out 1 cup of the hot pasta cooking water and set aside. Drain pasta and broccoli, then return the pasta to the same pot off the heat.
Mix sauce: Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water to the jar containing the sauce ingredients. Shake well until combined and creamy.
Toss pasta with sauce and cheese: Pour the sauce from the jar into the pot with the pasta. Stir vigorously to coat the pasta and broccoli evenly. Add more reserved pasta water if needed to achieve desired sauce consistency.
Adjust seasoning and serve: Taste and adjust salt, pepper, and spice level as desired. Serve immediately, garnished generously with additional Parmesan cheese.

Notes

Using fresh lemon juice brightens the sauce, but adjust the quantity based on your taste preference.
Reserve pasta water is key to thinning the sauce and helping it adhere better to the pasta.
You can substitute any short pasta shape, but smaller shells or penne work best.
For a spicier kick, increase the amount of red pepper flakes.
This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the sauce at its creamiest.
Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated with a splash of water or olive oil to loosen the sauce.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: Broccoli pasta, quick pasta recipe, lemon garlic pasta, vegetarian pasta, weeknight dinner, easy pasta dish