This creamy broccoli pasta skillet is a weeknight lifesaver! If you’re looking for a delicious vegetarian dinner that comes together in a flash, you’ve found your new go-to. It’s packed with flavor, incredibly satisfying, and perfect for those busy evenings when you need a wholesome meal without a lot of fuss.
Forget spending hours in the kitchen; this recipe delivers big on taste with minimal effort. It’s a fantastic option for families, singles, or anyone who appreciates a comforting, cheesy pasta dish. Serve it up with your favorite crusty bread, and you’ve got a complete meal everyone will love.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
- Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Creamy Broccoli Pasta Skillet
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This creamy broccoli pasta skillet is a delicious vegetarian dinner that comes together quickly. It’s packed with flavor, incredibly satisfying, and perfect for busy evenings. This one-pot wonder means less cleanup and more time enjoying your meal. It’s a fantastic way to get greens into your diet, even for picky eaters, thanks to the creamy, cheesy sauce.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped yellow onion and cook for 3-5 minutes until it softens and becomes translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
2. Stir in the broccoli florets and vegetable broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing the broccoli to start tenderizing.
3. Add the uncooked pasta to the skillet, stirring to ensure it’s submerged in the broth. Cover the skillet and continue to cook for 10-12 minutes, or according to package directions, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. The pasta should be al dente, and most of the liquid should be absorbed.
4. Pour in the milk and heavy cream. Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Continue to cook, uncovered, for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to gently thicken.
5. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and grated Parmesan cheese until completely melted and smooth. The residual heat from the pasta and sauce will melt the cheese beautifully, creating a rich, luscious sauce.
6. Let the skillet sit for 2-3 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to further thicken and cling perfectly to the pasta and broccoli. Serve hot and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: skillet
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
Keywords: vegetarian, pasta, broccoli, cheesy, skillet, quick, easy, weeknight, comfort food, one pot
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This recipe truly shines for its simplicity and incredible flavor payoff. It’s designed for busy individuals and families who want a homemade meal without the usual time commitment. You’ll love that it’s a one-pan (or one-pot, mostly!) wonder, which means less cleanup and more time enjoying your evening. It’s a fantastic way to get some greens into your diet in a way that even picky eaters tend to enjoy, thanks to the creamy, cheesy sauce. This dish is perfect for a relaxed weeknight dinner, a casual lunch, or even as a comforting meal prep option for the week ahead. It’s a vegetarian dream, offering a hearty and satisfying experience without any meat, making it suitable for a wide range of dietary preferences.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
The beauty of this cheesy broccoli pasta skillet lies in its straightforward ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry or fridge. You won’t need any exotic items, making it a budget-friendly and accessible meal to whip up anytime.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 12 ounces pasta (such as penne, rotini, or shells)
- 1/2 cup milk (any kind works)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
For simple substitutions, you can easily swap out the yellow onion for a white onion or even a couple of shallots if you prefer a milder flavor. If you don’t have fresh garlic, a teaspoon of garlic powder can work in a pinch, though fresh is always best for flavor. Feel free to use any short pasta shape you have on hand; penne, rotini, or medium shells are excellent choices as they hold the sauce well. For the milk and cream, you can use all milk for a lighter sauce, or all cream for an extra rich dish, depending on your preference. Any good quality shredded cheese blend that melts well, like a Colby Jack or a Mexican blend, can stand in for the cheddar if needed.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is truly a quick-cooking marvel, designed to get a delicious dinner on the table without a lengthy commitment.
- Preparation time: 10 minutes
- Cooking time: 20-25 minutes
- Total time: 30-35 minutes
You’ll spend most of your time chopping the onion and broccoli, and then it’s a straightforward process of simmering and stirring until everything is perfectly cooked and creamy.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Creating this cheesy broccoli pasta skillet is a breeze, even for beginner cooks. Follow these steps for a perfect, comforting meal every time.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped yellow onion and cook for 3-5 minutes until it softens and becomes translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add Broccoli and Broth: Stir in the broccoli florets and vegetable broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing the broccoli to start tenderizing.
- Cook the Pasta: Add the uncooked pasta to the skillet, stirring to ensure it’s submerged in the broth. Cover the skillet and continue to cook for 10-12 minutes, or according to package directions, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. The pasta should be al dente, and most of the liquid should be absorbed.
- Create the Creamy Sauce Base: Pour in the milk and heavy cream. Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Continue to cook, uncovered, for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to gently thicken.
- Melt in the Cheese: Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and grated Parmesan cheese until completely melted and smooth. The residual heat from the pasta and sauce will melt the cheese beautifully, creating a rich, luscious sauce.
- Rest and Serve: Let the skillet sit for 2-3 minutes before serving. This allows the sauce to further thicken and cling perfectly to the pasta and broccoli. Serve hot and enjoy!
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This cheesy broccoli pasta skillet is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to suit various tastes and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you can cut the broccoli florets into smaller pieces or even use frozen chopped broccoli to make them less noticeable. A sprinkle of goldfish crackers or crushed potato chips on top can also add a fun crunch that kids often love.
If you want to add more vegetables, consider stirring in a handful of fresh spinach during the last few minutes of cooking, or adding diced bell peppers along with the onion. For a touch of heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes can be added with the Italian seasoning. To make it a heartier meal for a party or buffet, you could stir in some cooked, shredded chicken or white beans (like cannellini) at the end.
This dish pairs wonderfully with a simple side salad with a light vinaigrette, or a basket of warm garlic bread or crusty French bread for dipping into that delicious creamy sauce. A sprinkle of fresh parsley or basil just before serving adds a pop of color and freshness.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have a few pitfalls. Knowing what to watch out for can ensure your cheesy broccoli pasta skillet turns out perfect every time.
One common mistake is overcooking the pasta. Since the pasta cooks directly in the broth, it can absorb liquid quickly. Stir occasionally and check for doneness around the 10-minute mark to ensure it’s al dente, not mushy.
Another slip-up is burning the garlic. Garlic cooks very quickly, so once you add it to the skillet, cook it for only about a minute until fragrant, then immediately add the broccoli and broth to cool the pan down. Burnt garlic can impart a bitter taste to your entire dish.
Not stirring enough when the pasta is cooking can lead to it sticking to the bottom of the skillet. Give it a good stir every few minutes to prevent this.
Finally, adding the cheese while the skillet is still on high heat can sometimes cause the cheese to clump or become oily. Always remove the skillet from the heat before stirring in the shredded cheeses; the residual heat is usually sufficient to melt them into a smooth, creamy sauce.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This cheesy broccoli pasta skillet is fantastic fresh, but it also stores reasonably well for future meals. To store leftovers, allow the pasta to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
When reheating, the sauce might thicken considerably, and the pasta can absorb more liquid, making it a bit drier. To revive its creamy texture, add a splash of milk or vegetable broth before reheating. You can reheat individual portions in the microwave, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Alternatively, gently warm it in a skillet on the stovetop over low heat, adding liquid as needed, until it’s hot and creamy again.
While you can technically make this dish ahead, the pasta will continue to absorb liquid, and the broccoli might become softer. For the best texture, it’s ideal to enjoy this dish shortly after it’s made. However, if you need to prep ahead, you can chop all your vegetables in advance and store them in the fridge, making the cooking process even faster on the day you plan to serve it.
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe
Can I use frozen broccoli instead of fresh? Absolutely! Frozen broccoli works perfectly. You can add it directly to the skillet with the broth; it might just need an extra minute or two to cook through.
What kind of pasta works best for this recipe? Short pasta shapes like penne, rotini, shells, or even elbow macaroni are ideal as they hold the creamy sauce well.
Can I make this recipe dairy-free? You can try using dairy-free milk and cream alternatives, along with your favorite dairy-free shredded cheese. The texture might vary slightly, but it can still be delicious.
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FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
