Creamy Broccoli Pasta ( How to Boil Broccoli)

Creamy Broccoli Pasta Recipe – Learn the best tips for how to boil broccoli so it’s tender, delicious, and perfect to make family-friendly dishes like veggie pasta with cheese sauce!

Why We Love this Broccoli Pasta Recipe

When should you boil broccoli? How long does it take to boil broccoli? These are two questions I want to address with today’s easy Broccoli Pasta Recipe with Top Tips. In my humble opinion, I believe you should NEVER boil broccoli if you’re eating the broccoli alone as a side dish. There are just too many other easy ways to prepare broccoli that create a much better flavor and texture. Instead of boiling, consider roasted broccoli, grilled broccoli, or air fryer broccoli.

However, there is one time it makes sense to boil broccoli, and that would be when you’re planning to use it in a pasta dish and are also boiling pasta! Both the pasta and broccoli can be boiled together, so that your amazing creamy broccoli pasta is prepared in record time. 

However, if you’re a rebel and insist on boiling broccoli on its own, keep reading for our top tips on how to do it well…

How to Boil Broccoli (i.e. How Long to Boil Broccoli)

First, let’s cover the basics of boiling perfectly tender broccoli.

Set a large pot of salted water over high heat, and bring it to a boil. Meanwhile, cut the broccoli into florets. They will cook the most evenly if the florets are all a similar size, about 1 x 2 inches. Once the water is boiling, lower the broccoli florets into the boiling water.

Stir once, and allow the broccoli to boil for 1 to 2 minutes. Use a colander to drain the water off the broccoli. Allow the broccoli to steam and dry for another 1 to 2 minutes. Then serve.

Pro Tip: Well-boiled broccoli should be bright and green and the stems should still be slightly firm, but not raw.

What dishes can be made from boiled broccoli?

Gently cooked broccoli is a healthy side dish. Serve it with nearly any proteins and main dishes you like!

We also love these easy recipes that all include boiling broccoli florets:

• Detox Southwest Chicken Soup
• Skinny Pasta Primavera
• Lightened Up Broccoli Cheddar Soup
• Skinny Creamy Chicken Broccoli Soup

Easy Cheesy and Creamy Broccoli Pasta

For those of you that want to take my word for it, that the best use for boiled broccoli is in broccoli pasta… I suggest you make this delicious Creamy Cheesy Broccoli Pasta recipe this week. Seriously, it’s ready to serve in less than 30 minutes, so this dish is a quick and easy weeknight dinner wonder!

It’s so simple and really packs a punch in flavor. The cheese sauce is not a typical mac and cheese sauce, or a heavy cheese sauce that would be used over broccoli. Instead, it’s a light tangy cream cheese and cheddar cheese sauce that perfectly accentuates the flavor of the broccoli.

Ingredients You Need

• Small dried pasta – we use trottole here, but any small noodles like pasta shells or elbow macaroni work well
• Broccoli florets – look for broccoli that is fresh and brightly green with a firm stalk and fluffy head
• Butter – unsalted
• Garlic – minced
• Pasta water – reserve while cooking the pasta, before draining
• Lemon – zested
• Cream cheese – regular or low fat
• Cheddar cheese – shredded
• Spices – crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper

How to Make Pasta with Broccoli and Cheese

Fill a large sauce pot with water and set over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of salt to the water. Bring to a boil. 

Meanwhile, trim the broccoli florets, minced the garlic, and zest one lemon, making sure to only collect the yellow skin, not the bitter whites below. Save the rest of the lemon for another use.

Once the water is boiling, drop the pasta into the pot and stir. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. When the pasta is 1 to 2 minutes from being perfectly cooked, stir the broccoli florets into the boiling water with the pasta.

Continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes more. Then scoop 2 cups of pasta water out of the boiling water to use for the sauce. Drain the pasta and boiled broccoli through a colander.

Get the Complete (Printable) Creamy Broccoli Pasta Recipe Below. Enjoy!

Set the pot back on the stove and reduce the heat to medium. Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the pot, followed by the minced garlic. Sauté the garlic for one minute, stirring to make sure it does not burn. Then pour in one cup of pasta water. Add the lemon zest, and cream cheese. Stir until the cream cheese has melted into the pasta water. Then add in the shredded cheddar cheese, crushed red pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper.

Stir the sauce until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.

Add the cooked pasta and broccoli to the cheese sauce. Gently stir to coat. Add an additional ½ to 1 cup of pasta water to the sauce to loosen it if needed. Taste, then salt and pepper as needed.

Serving Suggestions

Rich, creamy, and cheesy pasta with broccoli is delicious as a hearty side dish or satisfying vegetarian main dish.

Enjoy as a side with Grilled Chicken, Crispy Baked Buffalo Chicken Breast, or Crispy Baked Chicken Cutlets, or Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets.

To make it the star of a quick weeknight meal, we suggest pairing the pasta with a fresh green salad and crusty homemade Garlic Bread.

Or eat entirely on it’s own by the bowlful! I mean, it has everything you want in a meal in literally just one dish: Starch/carb, veggie, and protein.

Pro Tip: You can even add more protein by sauteeing small pieces of chicken or shrimp with the garlic before making the cheese sauce!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long to boil broccoli?

Less is more here: The less time the florets spend boiling, the more tender and flavor they will be. Add the chopped broccoli to the boiling water and cook for only 1 to 2 minutes.

Can you add chicken to this broccoli pasta recipe?

Definitely! This is a great dish to work in leftover chicken – like our Instant Pot Shredded Chicken. After adding the pasta and broccoli to the cheese sauce, gently stir in a cup of cooked and chopped chicken.

Or you can add small raw chicken pieces to the sauteéd garlic, and cook for 2-3 minutes, before making the cheese sauce!

How long do leftovers last?

Cool the dish completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Briefly reheat in the microwave just until warm, taking care to not overcook the broccoli.

Can you freeze broccoli pasta with cheese?

Yes, you can! But note that the texture and taste will change a bit once you reheat.

To freeze, first transfer room temperature leftovers to an airtight freezer container – we also suggest wrapping the container in a layer of foil for extra protection. Store in the freezer for up to 2 months.

You can thaw the pasta in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave. Or, if the pasta is in a freezer-to-oven dish, cover the frozen dish with foil and bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. Add a splash of milk, if needed, to smooth out the sauce.

Looking for More Easy Vegetarian Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:

• One-Pot Spinach Ricotta Pasta
• Gemelli Pasta with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
• Pasta Burrata with Roasted Summer Vegetables
• Creamy Spinach Artichoke Pasta
• Skinny Pasta Primavera

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