Description
This creamy broccoli pasta dish combines tender pasta shells with fresh broccoli florets in a rich garlic butter sauce, infused with aromatic herbs and finished with tangy lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a quick, comforting meal ready in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Butter and Aromatics
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
Liquids and Seasonings
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 ¼ cups half and half
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Main Ingredients
- ½ lb. medium pasta shells
- 3 ½ cups broccoli florets (uncooked, cut into smaller pieces)
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese (finely grated into a powder)
Instructions
- Prep Ingredients: Measure out all ingredients before starting to cook. Cut the broccoli into smaller florets to ensure they cook quickly and evenly.
- Melt Butter and Sauté Garlic: Over medium heat, melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Add Liquids and Seasonings: Pour in the chicken broth and half and half. Stir in onion powder, dried thyme, salt, dried oregano, and dried parsley.
- Cook Pasta and Broccoli: Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the pasta shells, submerging them completely. Return to a boil, then partially cover and cook according to package instructions. Add the broccoli florets during the last 6 minutes of cooking. Use a silicone spatula to stir occasionally, preventing the pasta from sticking to the skillet bottom.
- Check Pasta Doneness: Remove the cover and test a pasta shell for doneness. If it needs more time, cover and cook until the desired texture is reached.
- Finish the Sauce: Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the lemon juice and gently mix in the finely grated Parmesan cheese using a silicone spatula. The sauce will thicken as it stands.
- Serve: Garnish with additional parsley if desired and serve the broccoli pasta warm, ideally with garlic bread topped with cheese for a complete meal.
Notes
- Cutting broccoli into smaller pieces helps speed up cooking.
- Use a silicone spatula to prevent scratching your skillet and to avoid the pasta sticking.
- Partially covering the pan traps steam and helps cook the pasta evenly.
- If the sauce becomes too thick after standing, stir in a splash of broth or half and half to loosen it.
- Serving suggestion: garlic bread with cheese pairs nicely to complement the creamy pasta.
