Easy Broccoli Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan
Easy Broccoli Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan is a quick, better-than-takeout dinner that’s ready in just 20 minutes. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly crispy broccoli and rich garlic butter. The moment you take your first bite, you’ll be greeted with crispy broccoli, rich garlic butter, and melty Parmesan. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Classic Boston Cream Pie Recipe with Vanilla Custard and Chocolate and Classic Sweet Potato Casserole with Crunchy Pecan Topping.
Why This Easy Broccoli Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan Is Pure Comfort
- Better than takeout flavor in just 20 minutes
- Crispy broccoli and rich garlic butter make this dish irresistible
- Easy, one-pan recipe with minimal cleanup
- Customize with your favorite pasta shape or add-ins
What You'll Need for Easy Broccoli Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Pasta
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Parmesan Cheese
- Butter
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Optional: Breadcrumbs
- Optional: Pine Nuts
- Optional: Red Pepper Flakes
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- Pasta: Use any shape you like, such as penne, fusilli, or farfalle.
- Broccoli: Fresh broccoli florets work best. Frozen is okay, but may require slightly longer cooking time.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Pasta Pot — Evenly cooks pasta and prevents sticking. → See on Amazon
- Microplane Zester — Effortlessly grates garlic and cheese for even distribution. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Broccoli Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan
- Cook Pasta: Boil water, add pasta, cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sauté Garlic: Melt butter in a large pan, add minced garlic, and sauté until fragrant.
- Cook Broccoli: Add broccoli florets to the pan, cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.
- Toss with Pasta: Add cooked pasta to the pan, toss with garlic butter, broccoli, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Add reserved pasta water if needed to coat the pasta.
- Serve: Plate the pasta, top with grated Parmesan, and serve immediately.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Broccoli Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan
- Common mistake and fix: Overcooking the broccoli can make it mushy. To prevent this, cook it until it's just tender and still has some crunch.
- Pro tip: Reserve some pasta water before draining. It can help bind the sauce and make it creamier if needed.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, add a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.
Storing & Reheating Easy Broccoli Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can cook the pasta and broccoli ahead of time, but combine and add the garlic butter and cheese just before serving.
Freezing Easy Broccoli Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan
Freezing is not recommended for this dish as it may cause the broccoli to lose its crispness.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until warmed through. Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter.
- Best substitution: If you don't have Parmesan, you can substitute with Pecorino Romano or nutritional yeast for a vegan version.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the broccoli and garlic butter ahead of time, but combine with the pasta just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe serves 4. To double, simply double the ingredients.
- Troubleshooting: If your pasta is sticking, add a little bit of the reserved pasta water to the pan.
Want to level up this recipe?
Stainless Steel Skillet — Evenly heats and distributes heat for perfectly cooked broccoli and garlic butter. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Broccoli Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Pasta
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Parmesan Cheese
- Butter
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Red Pepper Flakes
Optional Toppings
- Breadcrumbs
- Pine Nuts
- Red Pepper Flakes
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil water, add pasta, cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sauté Garlic: Melt butter in a large pan, add minced garlic, and sauté until fragrant.
- Cook Broccoli: Add broccoli florets to the pan, cook until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.
- Toss with Pasta: Add cooked pasta to the pan, toss with garlic butter, broccoli, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Add reserved pasta water if needed to coat the pasta.
- Serve: Plate the pasta, top with grated Parmesan, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter.
- Best substitution: If you don't have Parmesan, you can substitute with Pecorino Romano or nutritional yeast for a vegan version.
- Make-ahead: You can prepare the broccoli and garlic butter ahead of time, but combine with the pasta just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe serves 4. To double, simply double the ingredients.
- Troubleshooting: If your pasta is sticking, add a little bit of the reserved pasta water to the pan.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freezing is not recommended for this dish as it may cause the broccoli to lose its crispness.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until warmed through. Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
- Make ahead: You can cook the pasta and broccoli ahead of time, but combine and add the garlic butter and cheese just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 18g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 60g
- Fiber: 5g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 40mg
- Sat. Fat: 10g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Broccoli Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan FAQs
You can cook the pasta and broccoli ahead of time, but combine and add the garlic butter and cheese just before serving to prevent the broccoli from losing its crispness.
Overcooking the broccoli can make it mushy. To prevent this, cook it until it's just tender and still has some crunch.
Yes, but frozen broccoli may require slightly longer cooking time. Thaw it first if possible.
Yes, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the garlic butter for a spicy kick.
You can add cooked chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas to this dish for extra protein.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Broccoli Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
