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A bowl of shell pasta tossed with mashed broccoli, garlic, olive oil, and grated Parmesan cheese

Easy Healthy Broccoli Pasta Recipe for Lunch or Dinner

Light pasta recipe Easy weeknight dinner · Fresh, cozy,and made with simple pantry staples
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces shell pasta
  • 1 large broccoli head cut into small florets
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
  • Optional add-ins
  • Extra olive oil for finishing
  • Lemon zest for brightness
  • Grilled chicken for extra protein
  • Roasted cherry tomatoes or sautéed mushrooms on the side

Method
 

  1. Boil the broccoli.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook until tender. Scoop the broccoli out into a bowl and save about 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
  3. Start the sauce base.
  4. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes and cook briefly until fragrant.
  5. Mash the broccoli.
  6. Add the cooked broccoli to the skillet along with some of the reserved broccoli water. Season with salt and black pepper, then cook until the broccoli becomes very soft. Mash it gently with a spoon so it turns into a chunky sauce.
  7. Cook the pasta.
  8. In the same pot, cook the shell pasta until al dente according to the package directions. Drain well.
  9. Combine everything.
  10. Add the pasta to the skillet with the broccoli mixture. Stir in the Parmesan until the pasta is coated and glossy. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if you want a looser sauce.
  11. Taste and serve.
  12. Adjust the salt and pepper if needed, then serve right away with extra Parmesan on top.

Notes

  • Cut the broccoli into small, even pieces so it cooks at the same pace.
  • Don’t let the garlic sit too long in the oil or it can turn bitter.
  • Save more pasta water than you think you need. It’s the easiest way to loosen the sauce later.
  • Add the Parmesan gradually so it melts in smoothly.
  • For meal prep, cook the pasta and broccoli separately ahead of time and combine them when ready to reheat.