30-Minute Creamy Broccoli Pasta: A Comforting Family Favorite
Creamy broccoli shell pasta with cheesy sauce – a quick vegetarian comfort food perfect for weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz medium shell pasta
- 3 cups broccoli florets, chopped
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook shell pasta according to package directions. Add broccoli during the last 2–3 minutes of cooking. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet or pot, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Add cooked pasta and broccoli to the sauce and toss until fully coated.
- Remove from heat and serve warm.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining
- Substitute half-and-half for heavy cream if preferred
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: creamy broccoli pasta, cheesy shell pasta, broccoli pasta recipe, vegetarian pasta dinner, comfort food pasta, easy weeknight pasta
Find it online: https://zoerecipe.com/creamy-broccoli-pasta-recipe/