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    Home » Pasta

    Creamy Lemon Broccoli Pasta

    Published: Apr 13, 2021 / Updated: Jul 17, 2022 / 21 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my affiliate disclosure for more details.

    Jump to Recipe

    This creamy broccoli pasta recipe comes together fast and makes a delicious and comforting meatless meal! It's great for a quick and easy yet totally satisfying weeknight dinner.

    You may also like my One Pot Chicken and Broccoli Pasta or this Easy Creamy Lemon Pasta.

    close-up of easy broccoli pasta in a shallow bowl

    Why you'll love it

    This easy broccoli pasta doesn't take long to prepare, and I use the shortcut of cooking the broccoli with the pasta. You simply add the broccoli in 2-3 minutes prior to draining it and don't have to worry about dirtying up another pot to boil the broccoli separately. Fewer dishes after work is always a win!

    You'll also appreciate how this is a hassle-free way to get some veggies into your life. Picky eaters won't be able to resist the creamy and bright lemon parmesan sauce, and it complements the broccoli so well. It's another 30-minute weeknight wonder for your quick pasta rotation that requires no fancy ingredients.

    What goes into it

    • Pasta - our kitchen used penne because they're perfect vessels for the creamy sauce
    • Broccoli - for some veggie goodness. We're using fresh broccoli here.
    • Butter & flour - to make a quick roux to thicken the sauce
    • Garlic - for some savory depth. I like to use this garlic press to mince the cloves without having to peel them.
    • Broth - I chose chicken broth, but you're welcome to use vegetable broth if you need this to be vegetarian
    • Lemon juice - always use freshly squeezed from real lemons
    • Italian seasoning - it's a fragrant blend of dried Italian herbs that happens to come all in one convenient jar! I use it in so many of my recipes since it's so versatile.
    • Heavy cream - to give the sauce its signature luxurious taste and texture
    • Parmesan - as always, I recommend keeping a wedge of parmesan cheese in your fridge and grating your own. I used my Microplane to grate it for this dish.
    lemon broccoli pasta in a skillet

    How to make creamy broccoli pasta

    This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

    making sauce for pasta and draining penne and broccoli

    Boil the penne al dente, and add in the broccoli a few minutes prior to the pasta being done. Meanwhile, in a skillet make a roux, followed by adding in the garlic, broth, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning. Let it reduce, and then whisk in the cream. Stir in the parmesan and remove from the heat.

    tossing penne and broccoli in creamy pasta sauce in a skillet

    Drain the pasta and broccoli, and add them to the skillet. Toss with the sauce, adding a splash of starchy pasta water if desired. Generously season with salt & pepper, top with more parmesan, and enjoy immediately.

    Pro tip

    • Broccoli cooking time will depend on how big the florets are chopped and how soft you prefer the broccoli, so I recommend trying a piece prior to draining the pot to make sure it's cooked to your liking. 

    Substitutions and variations

    • Sub the cream for something lower fat at your own discretion. The citrus in the sauce may curdle something like half-and-half or milk, and the sauce will definitely end up thinner.
    • Feel free to swap the penne with a different shape of pasta. Something similar size and sturdy like rigatoni would be ideal.
    • Add some crushed red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little heat if that's your thing!
    close-up of easy creamy broccoli pasta

    What to serve with it

    • This simple broccoli pasta is a great complete meal in and of itself! Try serving it with a slice of crusty bread, a dinner roll, or Garlic Bread if you want to go all out.
    • If you're craving a salad with it, throw together some mixed greens and fresh vegetables with this Homemade Ranch Dressing or my Creamy Balsamic Dressing.

    Leftovers and storage

    • This pasta is best served fresh, but you can store leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
    • To warm up leftovers, I'd recommend using a small saucepan over a low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of broth or cream to revive the sauce if needed.
    • Freezing this one won't work well. The texture of the creamy sauce won't come out right after thawing.

    Try these next

    • Easy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    • Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice (One Pot Meal!)
    • Creamy Shrimp and Broccoli Pasta
    • Tomato Orzo with Chicken Sausage and Broccoli
    • Cheesy Chicken Divan
    creamy broccoli pasta in two shallow bowls

    Pasta and broccoli are such a fantastic combo. Questions or want to leave me a review? Let me know in the comments below! As always, tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram with your creations.

    close-up of easy broccoli pasta in a shallow bowl

    Creamy Broccoli Pasta

    This creamy broccoli pasta recipe comes together fast and makes a delicious and comforting meatless meal! It's great for a quick and easy yet totally satisfying weeknight dinner.
    4.86 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 531 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     

    • 8 ounces uncooked pasta (I used penne)
    • 3 heaping cups broccoli cut into small florets
    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 1/2 tablespoon flour
    • 1-2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
    • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
    • 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
    • 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
    • Salt & pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Boil a large, salted pot of water. Cook the pasta al dente according to package instructions. When the pasta is 2-3 minutes away from being done, you will add the broccoli to the water.
    • Add the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat, and once it's melted, stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes.
    • To the skillet, add in the garlic, broth, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning. Let it bubble for a minute or so.
    • Whisk in the cream and let it cook for a few minutes until it's thickened up to your liking, then stir in the parmesan cheese and take the pan off the heat.
    • Drain the pasta and broccoli and add it to the skillet. If the sauce has thickened up too much, add a small splash of the pasta water prior to draining it. Season the pasta with salt & pepper (I'm generous with both) as needed and serve immediately with extra parmesan grated on top if desired.

    Notes

    • My broccoli was fairly soft after boiling it for 3 minutes (I cut it quite small). Do 1-2 minutes if you prefer more tender-crisp. It also depends how small you chop the florets, so it's a good idea to test one piece prior to draining the pot so you can cook it for a little extra if needed.
    • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 531kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 14gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 280mgPotassium: 419mgFiber: 4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1550IUVitamin C: 63mgCalcium: 181mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword creamy broccoli pasta recipe, creamy broccoli pasta sauce, easy broccoli pasta
    Author Natasha Bull
    « Easy Smothered Pork Chops and Gravy
    Cheesy Chicken Divan »

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    1. Kenneth McDonald says

      May 18, 2023 at 4:41 PM

      5 stars
      It was a great hit, my wife and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely make it again.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 18, 2023 at 5:53 PM

        Yay!! Glad to hear that. Thanks for your review!

        Reply
    2. Van says

      May 10, 2023 at 3:36 PM

      Liked it but it needed more vegetables.

      Reply
    3. Julie says

      January 17, 2023 at 4:22 PM

      4 stars
      So yummy!! I just doubled the lemon bc i am obsessed with lemon, so so good! Even the hubs loved it!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        January 17, 2023 at 10:27 PM

        Excellent!! 🙂

        Reply
    4. Brynn says

      June 20, 2022 at 1:15 AM

      Loved this recipe... didn't have any cream so used milk instead and it was still delicious!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        June 20, 2022 at 9:32 AM

        Awesome!!

        Reply
    5. Jamie says

      May 12, 2022 at 4:16 PM

      This is a great recipe on its own with no changes!. We have a vegetarian in the family. I made it again for another occasion and added diced chicken and toasted pine nuts. Yum! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        May 12, 2022 at 7:19 PM

        I'm so happy you liked it!! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Abby says

      January 16, 2022 at 5:44 PM

      5 stars
      Did exactly as the recipe said but added grilled chicken (brushed with Cardini Caesar dressing) and baby spinach. Fantastic! I’ll be eating the leftovers for breakfast! Thx for a fantastic recipe,

      Reply
      • Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says

        January 16, 2022 at 6:29 PM

        You're welcome, Abby! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

        Reply
    7. AngelaML says

      December 31, 2021 at 7:01 AM

      5 stars
      Hi Natasha,

      I made this last night, but changed it up a bit. I did add chicken to make it a full meal for us, using garlic powder and lemon pepper from one of your other delicious recipes. Added a little Dijon mustard (again a trick you've taught me) and subbed baby spinach for the broccoli because I had some on hand that needed to be used. Will definitely try with broccoli next time!

      I always sub light cream for the heavy cream. The sauce was still heavenly! Everyone loved it. Thank you as always!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        December 31, 2021 at 10:37 AM

        Sounds like a fabulous twist!! 😀 Happy New Year! XO

        Reply
    8. Heather says

      November 2, 2021 at 10:19 AM

      5 stars
      I use your recipes maybe 4 days a week! I think I'll be adding chicken to this only because my kids love chicken in pasta.

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        November 2, 2021 at 10:24 AM

        Aww your comment made my day!! Thank you so much! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Bev says

      April 22, 2021 at 2:13 AM

      5 stars
      Needed a meal for a vegetarian guest and found this recipe - easy to prepare & three of us ate it and it was delicious
      Another great recipe thank you

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 22, 2021 at 7:51 AM

        Fantastic!! I'm so pleased you all enjoyed it. 🙂

        Reply
    10. Liz says

      April 15, 2021 at 8:10 AM

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe! Easy, quick and delivers such great flavour! I simply swapped the dairy ingredients for their non-dairy/vegan alternates and had great success! Thanks Natasha for another great dinner inspo and recipe!

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 15, 2021 at 8:22 AM

        Fantastic!! I'm so pleased you liked it, Liz. Appreciate you taking the time to comment! XO

        Reply
    11. Ramya says

      April 15, 2021 at 4:13 AM

      Will be making this soon can i use vegan butter cheese and coconut cream as am a vegan i love pasta sooooooooooooo much perfect for my after office meals will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya

      Reply
      • Natasha says

        April 15, 2021 at 8:18 AM

        Let me know!

        Reply

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    Natasha Bull, founder and author of Salt & Lavender, in the kitchen

    Hi! I'm Natasha. Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!  Read more...

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