Cheesy and Creamy Broccoli Pasta Recipe
This Cheesy and Creamy Broccoli Pasta recipe combines tender broccoli florets with a rich, velvety cheese sauce made from mozzarella and parmesan, all tossed with perfectly cooked ditalini pasta. It’s a delightful vegetarian dish that’s both comforting and easy to prepare, ideal for a wholesome weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 Yellow Onion, diced
- 500 g Fresh Broccoli, chopped
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
Cheese and Dairy
- 2 cups Heavy Cream
- 8 oz Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
- 8 oz Parmesan Cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoon Butter
Pantry
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Salt (divided)
- Black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup Pasta water (reserved from cooked pasta)
- 16 oz Ditalini Pasta
Instructions
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and diced onion, sauté until translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt to enhance flavor.
- Cook Broccoli: Stir in chopped broccoli and continue to sauté for another 5 minutes, until the broccoli is tender but still vibrant green. Add an additional teaspoon of salt to season the vegetables evenly.
- Make Cheese Sauce: Pour in heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Add shredded mozzarella cheese gradually, stirring continuously until the cheese melts completely and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare Pasta: In a separate pot, cook ditalini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
- 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 to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
- Add Parmesan Cheese: Remove the skillet from heat. Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the pasta and stir until the cheese melts and is well incorporated into the dish.
- Serve: Serve immediately, garnished with extra parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper if desired. Enjoy your warm, cheesy broccoli pasta!
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency as needed to keep it creamy.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk, but the sauce will be less rich.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with a crisp green salad or garlic bread for a complete meal.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for the best melting texture and flavor.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop with a splash of cream or water.
Keywords: creamy broccoli pasta, cheesy pasta, ditalini pasta recipe, vegetarian pasta, easy broccoli recipes
