Description
A creamy green bowl of comfort, this Smashed Broccoli Pasta is a quick dinner recipe that turns simple ingredients into a vibrant and satisfying dish. It’s perfect for a healthy snack, easy dinner idea, or meatless lunch—ready in just 25 minutes with minimal cleanup. Blended broccoli, garlic, lemon, and parmesan create a sauce that hugs every pasta shell for a cozy, veggie-packed experience that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
2 cups broccoli florets
8 oz pasta shells
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup parmesan cheese, divided
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons pine nuts (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions.
2. In the last 3 minutes of pasta cooking, add the broccoli florets to the pot. Cook until tender.
3. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and broccoli together.
4. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
5. Transfer half the cooked broccoli to a blender or food processor. Add lemon juice, garlic-oil mix, 1⁄2 cup parmesan, and a few tablespoons of pasta water. Blend until creamy.
6. Return pasta and remaining broccoli to the skillet. Pour in the broccoli sauce and toss everything together.
7. Stir in the rest of the parmesan. Add more pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
8. Serve warm, topped with pine nuts, extra cheese, and cracked black pepper.
Notes
Don’t skip the lemon juice—it brightens the sauce and keeps the green color vibrant.
Use freshly grated parmesan for best texture and flavor.
If using frozen broccoli, boil it directly with pasta and blend as directed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling + Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1⁄2 cups
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: broccoli pasta, healthy pasta, easy dinner, green pasta, quick vegetarian meals