Pasta with Broccoli is a staple in most Italian households. This is your go-to recipe when you need to get dinner on the table fast and want something healthy for your family. A simple one pot recipe with only 5 ingredients ready in less than 30 minutes!
Pasta with Broccoli was a staple at our house growing up and it is now with my family as well. This is by far our favorite way to eat broccoli. And the best part is that this simple broccoli pasta recipe is ready in less than half an hour!
My mother's pasta e broccoli recipe was quite simple: boil pasta, add broccoli, toss with olive oil and top with grated cheese. However, my husband's nonna always added a thinly sliced onion sautéed in olive oil and so I've incorporated that step in my recipe. The onion, sautéed until golden add lots of extra flavor.
Growing broccoli in our garden
We enjoy broccoli so much that I started growing it in my garden about five years ago and I've been quite satisfied with the results. That is except for the year a groundhog ate it all up and basically left behind nothing but the stems.
As you can see, my harvest has been quite plentiful! The wonderful thing about growing broccoli is that when you cut off the heads, they grow back so you can continue to harvest the broccoli all summer long. Here's a helpful article with tips on growing your own broccoli.
The following are step by step instructions with images to guide you through this recipe. Please scroll to the end of this post for the detailed printable recipe card.
How to make Pasta with Broccoli
Step 1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, wash the broccoli and separate into florets. Peel the tough layer from the stems using a vegetable peeler or sharp pairing knife and chop into bite sized pieces. Set aside.
Step 2
Thinly slice an onion and sauté in olive oil over medium heat until soft and golden, about 7 minutes.
Step 3
When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add pasta of your choice. After 4-5 minutes, toss in the broccoli. Cook until the pasta is al dente and the broccoli is tender. Drain and stir in the sautéed onion. Drizzle with extra olive oil, if necessary, to ensure the pasta and broccoli are coated with olive oil. Serve hot with grated Parmigiano cheese.
Recipe FAQs
In this recipe, the broccoli is cooked until fork tender (about 5 minutes) but still has some bite to it. If you prefer softer broccoli that breaks apart and becomes almost pesto like, add to the pot at the same time as the pasta.
This recipe works well with frozen broccoli as well. When you toss in the frozen broccoli florets, place the lid on the pot to bring the water back to a boiling point as quickly as possible.
Our preferred pasta with broccoli is penne rigate, but you can use just about any medium or long pasta of your choice including rigatoni; gemelli; or even spaghetti.
You can also prepare this dish with fresh pasta such as homemade cavatelli. Fresh pasta cooks in just a few minutes, therefore add the broccoli to the boiling water first and add the pasta about 5 minutes later.
-For a non-vegetarian option, add crumbled sausage without the casing to the pan after you sauté the onion in the first step.
-Melt an anchovy fillet or two along with the onion in the first step.
-Add some pepperoncino (crushed red pepper flakes) to the sautéed onion for a spicy kick.
-The onion may be replaced with garlic.
Pasta with Broccoli Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 large broccoli (about 5 cups) or more if you prefer a higher broccoli to pasta ratio
- ¼ cup olive oil plus extra for drizzling
- 1 onion thinly sliced
- 450 grams penne rigate or other dried pasta of your choice
- salt and pepper, to taste
- Parmigiano cheese or Pecorino Romano cheese for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, rinse broccoli and separate into florets. Peel off the tough outer layer of the stems with a vegetable peeler or pairing knife and cut into bite sized pieces. Set aside.
- When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the pasta.
- While the pasta is cooking, in a medium sized skillet, over medium heat sauté the sliced onion in the olive oil until golden, about 7 minutes.
- After the pasta has been boiling for about 5 minutes, stir in the broccoli. Continue cooking until the pasta is al dente and the broccoli is tender.
- Drain the pasta and broccoli and stir in the sautéed onion. Drizzle with extra olive oil, if necessary, to completely coat the pasta and broccoli.
- Serve hot with plenty of Parmigiano cheese.
Notes
- In this recipe, the broccoli is cooked until tender but still has some bite to it. If you prefer softer broccoli that breaks apart and becomes almost pesto like, add to the pot at the same time as the pasta.
- This recipe works well with frozen broccoli as well. When you toss in the frozen broccoli florets, place the lid on the pot to bring the water back to a boiling point as quickly as possible.
- Add a few crushed red pepper flakes to the sautéed onion for a spicier dish.
- If you prefer the flavor of garlic, a couple of cloves of minced garlic may be substituted for the sliced onion.
- Our preferred pasta with broccoli is penne rigate, but you can use just about any type of dried pasta that you like.
- You can also prepare this dish with fresh pasta. Fresh pasta cooks in just a few minutes, therefore add the broccoli to the boiling water first and add the pasta about 5 minutes later.
Nutrition
Cindy
What a simple yet delicious recipe! Thank you for sharing
Nadia
So glad you enjoyed it, thank you!
Karen
I’m So glad I came across your site today! Your recipes are like revisiting my childhood! <3
Nadia
Hi Karen, you are most welcome! Food memories are indeed a wonderful thing. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
tom
Quick easy and delicious. Onions are a nice touch. I over cooked the broccoli this time , will do better next.
Nadia
Hi Tom, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I know some people like their broccoli overcooked but you can definitely put it in to boil a few minutes later. Thanks for your comment!
Deb
Fill in the blank "and spaghetti" was my mom's signature dish..y
Name it...she made it!!
Nadia
Hi Deb, I totally agree, that's my mom as well. Basically, anything they make is delicious!