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One-Pot Creamy Broccoli Parmesan Pasta

Close-up of creamy broccoli pasta featuring fusilli noodles and bright green broccoli florets, topped with grated cheese.

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Make this comforting broccoli pasta in one pot for easy cleanup. This recipe delivers a rich, cheesy sauce coating tender pasta and fresh broccoli florets, ready for your weeknight table fast.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound pasta (penne or rotini work well)
  • 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
  • 4 cups water or vegetable broth
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Place the pasta, broccoli florets, water or broth, minced garlic, salt, and pepper into a large pot or Dutch oven.
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is nearly tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
  3. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and butter until the butter melts completely.
  4. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and stir continuously until the sauce thickens and becomes creamy, coating the pasta and broccoli.
  5. Serve immediately. Top each serving with extra Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • For a lighter sauce, substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream.
  • If you want a sharper cheese flavor, use a mix of Parmesan and sharp white cheddar.
  • You can add cooked, shredded chicken to make this a heartier meal.

Nutrition