In just 20 minutes, this easy pasta dinner is ready to serve! We all need a quick meal in our back pocket, am I right?! This broccoli pasta is uncomplicated and simple to make at home—it combines lemon juice and zest, chopped broccoli florets, fragrant minced garlic, your favorite short dried pasta, plus olive oil. That’s it! The magic? It’s in the ingredient ratios.

broccoli pasta in two bowls with a fork and chili flakes on the side

Every time I ask what kind of recipes you want, I get a bunch of requests for quick and easy pasta dinner suggestions. This recipe checks all of those boxes while sneaking some green veggies into your pasta night! My pasta with lemon and broccoli is truly the perfect quick pasta dinner idea. It uses simple ingredients, but combined, they pack a really tasty punch.

Watch how to make it

big pot of pasta with broccoli and tongs

Olive Oil Pasta Sauce

Since the olive oil is the main ingredient in the sauce (other than broccoli, of course!), I suggest going with the nicest olive oil you can find. I promise you’ll taste a difference. It will feel like an authentic Italian restaurant Broccoli Pasta!

I absolutely love a vegetarian pasta dish and I have several that come to mind. This Kale and Lemon Spaghetti is another light and fresh dish that’s super easy to make. Also this Vegetarian Pasta with with Fresh Tomatoes and Basil is just as simple as it is delicious. And how can I forget this vegetable pasta with artichokes and mushrooms or my Burst Tomato Pasta?!

(If you love cooking at home like I do, be sure to check out my guide on the best pans & cookware for your kitchen!).

ingredients on a board. broccoli, pasta, parmesan, chili flakes, lemon

Ingredients in Broccoli Pasta

The list is short but delicious! I love how easy it is to keep these ingredients on hand, especially since this is a favorite that gets requested regularly! You’ll be cooking Broccoli Pasta with…

  • Your favorite kind of short pasta
  • Broccoli
  • Garlic
  • Lemon (of course!)
  • Olive oil (splurge on the good stuff. I promise it’s worth it!)
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Grated Parmesan for serving
bowl of Broccoli Pasta with a fork

How to Cook Broccoli for Pasta

I’m all about using the least amount of dishes possible. In this case, we are using two pots/pans. One to cook the pasta and one for the sauce. To keep things simple you will cook the pasta in the same water that you use to boil the broccoli!

Start by boiling the water and adding salt. Then add the broccoli and boil until it’s tender. This gives the broccoli a chance to soften before chopping it up and using it in the sauce. Remove the broccoli (but don’t drain the water) and use the same water the cook the noodles!

Can you boil broccoli with pasta?

The pasta takes longer to cook than the broccoli, so if you want to cook them together, add the pasta first, then add the broccoli in the last few minutes of cooking time.

bowl of broccoli pasta on a linen napkin

More Pasta Recipes

Food photography by Ashley Cuoco

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Easy 20 Minute Lemon-Broccoli Pasta Dinner

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 5 reviews
  • Author: Laney Schwartz
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 2–3 people 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stove Top
  • Cuisine: Italian
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Description

In just 20 minutes, this easy pasta dinner is ready to serve! We all need a quick meal in our back pocket, am I right?! This broccoli pasta is uncomplicated and simple to make at home—it combines lemon juice and zest, chopped broccoli florets, fragrant minced garlic, your favorite short dried pasta, plus olive oil. That’s it! The magic? It’s in the ingredient ratios.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces broccoli florets (or 1 head)
  • 1/2 pound short pasta
  • 1/4 cup good olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, (minced)
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more if you like it spicy!)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Grated parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add about 1 tablespoon of salt and return to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for about 2-3 minutes until just tender. Remove broccoli from pot and set aside. Do not drain water. Use the same water to cook the pasta.
  2. Bring water back to a boil and add the pasta. Cook according to package, about 10 minutes.
  3. While pasta is cooking, make the broccoli sauce. Roughly chop the broccoli and set aside. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium/high heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the chopped broccoli, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, lemon juice, and cook for 1-2 minutes until heated through. 
  4. Once the pasta is cooked, reserve 1/4 cup pasta water and add the pasta directly into the pan, top with grated Parmesan cheese, and toss to combine. If sauce needs to be thinned out, add some pasta water. Serve immediately!

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