Really Quick Broccoli Pasta

Recipe video above. This is a great emergency meal OR carb + veg side for all those times when your cupboards are bare except for broccoli, pasta, and some kind of cheese. It's saucy without using tons of oil, and there's loads of sub options. Quick and utterly scrumptious - loaded with tons of broccoli!

Prep time: PT5M

Cook time: PT10M

Total time: PT15M

Rating

4.95 stars (167 reviews)

Keywords

Broccoli pasta, broccoli recipes, quick pasta

Ingredients

350g / 12 oz dried short pasta ((I used small shells))
2 broccoli heads ((BIG!))
1 cup shredded cheese (or more!)
2 tsp lemon zest
2 tbsp lemon juice ((or more!))
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup parmesan (, finely grated)
2 garlic cloves (, minced)
1 tsp mixed dried herbs ((or fresh!))
1/2 tsp+ red pepper flakes ((add more if you want spicy!))
1 tsp sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
More parmesan

Cuisine

Western

Steps

Cook pasta: Boil a large pot of water with 2 tsp salt, add pasta.
While pasta is cooking:
- Chop broccoli: Chop broccoli into small florets.
- Cook broccoli: Add broccoli into water 1 - 2 minutes before pasta is cooked.
- Sauce ingredients in jar: Place Sauce ingredients in a jar with lid.
- Reserve pasta water: SCOOP OUT 1 cup pasta cooking water just before draining. Then drain and return pasta back into same pot on turned off stove.
- Add pasta water into Sauce: Add 1/2 cup pasta water to Pasta Sauce jar, shake well.
- Add Sauce & Cheese to pasta: Pour Sauce and add cheese into pot with pasta.
- Stir then serve! Stir vigorously, adding more pasta water if required. Add more salt and pepper if required. Serve immediately, garnished with parmesan.

Nutitrion

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 634 kcal
Carbohydrates: 71 g
Protein: 23 g
Fat: 29 g
Saturated Fat: 9 g
Cholesterol: 31 mg
Sodium: 768 mg
Sugar: 5 g

Reviews

Judith on 2026-04-05 (5 stars):
Fabulous easy recipe! So yummy with pan seared tilapia! Thank you for solving my dinner. Your recipes always work perfectly, even with a little adaptation
Donna Barbieri on 2026-03-31 (5 stars):
Excellent recipe for a quick dinner. I used cavatappi pasta and grana padana cheese, omitted the lemon.
Michelle on 2026-03-11 (5 stars):
Love this dish, I make it often. I usually prep the sauce ahead of time. Thank you for such a great recipe!
Joy Williams on 2026-02-06 (4 stars):
This was really fresh tasting and so yummy. I made only half the recipe but used a whole lemon and its zest.and it was perfect to my taste. I live in rural Japan and at this time of year broccoli is one of the few local fresh veggies easily available. And it's now possible to get a variety of cheeses --not so in Japan years ago. Thanks for such a healthy non-meat recipe. Will be making it again.
Jennifer Walsh on 2026-01-09 (5 stars):
I couldn't get my children to eat it, but my husband and I loved it. It makes a lovely side dish.
Nari in Thun on 2026-01-09 (5 stars):
The subtle taste of lemon melted with garlic and cheese! My family is usually ultra sensitive to all kinds of lemoney taste, but this one everybody loved (maybe only I noticed 🤣) Thanks again Nagi❣️
Marloes on 2026-01-08 (5 stars):
Delicious! So fast, so simple. This is going to be another staple in my household like so many of your recipes
Monique Elder on 2025-11-02 (5 stars):
Amazing!
Didem Aydin on 2025-10-21 (5 stars):
Great recipe! Thank you!
Ben on 2025-10-09 (5 stars):
These are such a good recipe for pasta when you dont have pesto!
Terry on 2025-10-03 (5 stars):
This recipe is the bomb! Substituted the cheese with a few tablespoons of cream cheese into the sauce, and added about a cup of frozen peas for protein. All worked so well together. Definitely a keeper.
emilia fleming on 2025-09-17 (5 stars):
I made the sauce with the broccoli stem. Reduced the olive oil. Steamed the stem and put it in a blender with the other ingredients as mentioned in your sauce recipe. Very tasty and no waste.
Anne on 2025-09-16 (5 stars):
Made this for dinner, was easy and delicious! The family loved it!
Sam Harrison on 2025-08-11 (5 stars):
So easy but so very tasty!! My fussy teenager loved it!!
Jacqueline Martinez on 2025-06-28 (5 stars):
Omg Nagi.. This is so good!
Sam on 2025-06-08 (5 stars):
I am forever grateful for this recipe Nagi, it is my go to when I don't know what to make as it is so quick and tastes amazing as do all your recipes! I'm slowly working through the cook books too:-) (It's also easy to text a lemon and brocoli emoji when the kids text what's for dinner !🤣 )
Alan on 2025-05-26 (5 stars):
Hi Nagi, Thank you for this super easy and delicious recipe. I've made this several times now and it never fails. One time, I tried taking it to the next level by browning the garlic in some olive oil and roasting the broccoli in the oven. It wasn't bad but of course I went over the 12 minute limit. PS. I'm totally rooting for you on the whole plagiarism mess! Go get her!
Hayley Hastwell on 2025-05-14 (5 stars):
Forgot to rate the recipe which is amazing, as usual!!
Mrs Rachael Stelzer on 2025-04-24 (5 stars):
Loved the subtle lemon flavour. I toasted some bacon and breadcrumbs and sprinkled them. Will definitely make again!