One-Pot Lemon Broccoli Pasta (Printable)

Tender pasta and broccoli in a silky lemon-garlic sauce, all cooked in one pot for effortless cleanup.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
12 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

→ Garnish

13 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped

# How To Make:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large, wide pot or deep sauté pan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, sauté 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 to combine and bring to a boil.
03 - Reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring often to prevent sticking, for 10–12 minutes, or until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has reduced to a silky sauce.
04 - Stir in lemon zest and juice, Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - Remove from heat and let stand 2–3 minutes for the sauce to thicken slightly.
06 - Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan and fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Dishes are practically nonexistent after this meal
  • The pasta creates its own velvety sauce from nothing but starch and liquid
02 -
  • Don't be tempted to add more liquid than called for, the pasta really does release enough starch to create proper sauce
  • The residual heat will thicken everything further in those few resting minutes, so don't panic if it looks a little loose right when you turn off the stove
03 -
  • Use your widest pot, even if it feels too big, because more surface area means better evaporation and thicker sauce
  • Grate the lemon zest before you cut into the lemon, otherwise you'll be fishing zest pieces out of your juice
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