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–+ servings
A bowl of pasta with broccoli and parmesan cheese.
5 from 1 vote

Creamy Broccoli Pasta

This creamy broccoli pasta is simple to make and oh-so comforting. Orecchiette pasta holds the cheesy sauce and broccoli perfectly. It's a one-pot meal that the whole fam is going to lick clean!
Prep 20 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Fat 18
Carbs 42
Protein 16
Yield 6 people

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. orecchiette pasta
  • 1.5 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ medium white onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups broccoli florets chopped into small bite-sized pieces
  • 1 ¾ teaspoon sea salt separated
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour or 1:1 gluten-free flour
  • 1.5 cups 2% milk
  • 1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook for 6-8 minutes or until the pasta is cooked to al dente. Strain and set aside.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium/high heat. When the olive oil is fragrant, add the onion and saute for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and broccoli and season with ¾ teaspoon salt. Saute for 2-3 minutes or until the broccoli is a deep green and partially cooked (we want it to stay a little crunchy). Remove the vegetables from the pot.
    Broccoli in a blue pot with a wooden spoon.
  • Using the same pot, prepare a roux by heating it over medium/high heat. Add butter. When the butter is melted, add flour and whisk until the butter and flour form a crumble or paste. Let the paste cook for at least a minute in the pot.
    A person stirring the batter in a pot.
  • Slowly add milk to the pot, whisking constantly. Continue to whisk the roux over medium/high heat for about 4-6 minutes or until the roux thickens.
    A person whisking a liquid in a pan.
  • When the roux is thick, remove it from the heat and slowly add the shredded cheddar cheese. Whisk until the cheese has melted. Repeat with the parmesan cheese.
  • Add the garlic, salt, and pepper to the cheese sauce.
  • Add the pasta and broccoli mixture to the cheese and stir everything together until it’s coated in cheese sauce. If the pasta is sticky, run it under warm water to loosen the pasta. Enjoy.
    A pot of pasta with broccoli and cheese.

Tips & Notes

  • If you would like a thinner cheese sauce, add 2 tablespoons of milk at a time, whisk it into the cheese sauce, and add more until the cheese sauce reaches your desired consistency.
  • We used cheddar and parmesan cheese, but you can use Moneterry jack cheese, gruyere, or your favorite type of cheese.
  • If you want more cheese sauce, double the cheese sauce ingredients. Love broccoli? Double those ingredients, too.

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Nutrition Facts

Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 18g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g