One-Pot Lemon Broccoli Pasta (Printable)

Spring-inspired pasta with tender broccoli, zesty lemon, and creamy garlic sauce cooked in one pot for effortless cleanup.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta & Vegetables

01 - 12 oz dried spaghetti or linguine
02 - 4 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
03 - 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small onion, finely chopped

→ Liquids

05 - 4 cups vegetable broth or water
06 - 1/2 cup whole milk or plant-based milk

→ Flavorings

07 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
08 - 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

→ Garnish

13 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, sautéing for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and translucent, but not browned.
02 - Add dried pasta, broccoli florets, vegetable broth, and milk to the pot. Stir thoroughly to combine and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
03 - Reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, for 10-12 minutes until pasta reaches al dente texture and liquid reduces to a silky sauce consistency.
04 - Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - Remove from heat and let stand 2-3 minutes to allow sauce to thicken slightly.
06 - Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce creates itself as the pasta cooks, infusing every strand with garlicky, lemony goodness
  • Cleanup takes literally two minutes, leaving more time for actually enjoying your meal
  • Broccoli becomes sweet and creamy instead of mushy, converting even the most dedicated veggie skeptics
02 -
  • The sauce continues thickening off the heat, so do not panic if it looks slightly looser than you want when you first turn off the stove
  • Reserve a splash of pasta water before the final reduction, just in case you need to thin the sauce at the very end
  • Lemon zest packs the real flavor power, so do not skip it even if juice feels more intuitive
03 -
  • Grate your cheese while the pasta cooks so it melts instantly into the hot sauce
  • If your broth is particularly salty, hold off on adding extra salt until the very end
  • Room temperature ingredients help prevent the sauce from separating when you add the cheese
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