Description
A comforting pasta dish with garlicky flavor, creamy sauce, and tender-crisp broccoli, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (about 225 g) pasta (penne, fusilli, or your favorite)
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets (about 180–200 g)
- 2 cups shredded cheese (about 8 oz / 225 g — cheddar or mozzarella)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (120 ml)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions for al dente. During the last 3 minutes of cooking, add the broccoli florets to the boiling pasta. Drain pasta and broccoli together and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30–60 seconds until fragrant — do not let it brown.
- Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer, lowering heat so it does not boil vigorously. Let it warm for a minute to slightly reduce.
- Add the shredded cheese in batches, stirring continuously until melted and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of pasta water or a little more cream.
- Add the drained pasta and broccoli to the skillet, tossing gently to coat everything evenly in the cheese sauce.
- Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Taste and adjust — a little extra black pepper or a pinch of nutmeg can brighten the sauce.
- Serve hot, optionally garnished with grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of freshly cracked black pepper.
Notes
This dish provides a solid protein boost from cheese and pasta, and a serving of vegetables from the broccoli. It is relatively high in saturated fat; swap in lighter dairy options for a lower-saturated-fat version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 370mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 70mg