Cheesy and Creamy Broccoli Pasta Recipe
This Cheesy and Creamy Broccoli Pasta is a quick and delicious meal perfect for weeknights. Tender broccoli florets are sautéed with garlic and onions, then simmered in a rich heavy cream sauce loaded with melted mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Tossed with al dente ditalini pasta and finished with reserved pasta water for the perfect creamy texture, this comforting dish is easy to prepare in just 20 minutes and serves four.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 Yellow Onion, diced
- 500 g Fresh Broccoli, chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 cups Heavy Cream
- 8 oz Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- 8 oz Parmesan Cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup Pasta water (reserved from cooking)
- 16 oz Ditalini Pasta
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics: In a large skillet, melt the butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and diced onion and sauté until translucent and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt to enhance the flavors.
- Cook broccoli: Stir in the chopped broccoli and continue sautéing for another 5 minutes. The broccoli should be tender yet still vibrant green. Add an additional teaspoon of salt to season the vegetables.
- Make creamy sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Add the shredded mozzarella cheese and stir continuously until the cheese melts completely and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your preference.
- Cook pasta: Meanwhile, cook the ditalini pasta in a separate pot according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water to add creaminess to the sauce.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the broccoli and creamy sauce. Pour in the reserved pasta water and gently toss everything together until the pasta is thoroughly coated with the sauce and well combined.
- Finish with parmesan: Remove the skillet from heat. Sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese over the pasta and stir until the cheese melts and incorporates smoothly into the dish.
- Serve: Serve the creamy broccoli pasta immediately. Garnish with additional parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper if desired, and enjoy your comforting, cheesy meal.
Notes
- You can substitute ditalini pasta with any small pasta shape like penne or macaroni.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of heavy cream.
- Adding a pinch of red pepper flakes can introduce a nice subtle heat.
- To make it vegetarian, ensure the parmesan cheese is made without animal rennet.
- Reserve pasta water is important as it helps emulsify and thin the sauce perfectly, so don't skip it.
