A quick and easy pasta with broccoli and plenty of melted cheese!
This broccoli and cheese pasta is a staple on my dinner recipe list! This is basically a mac and cheese recipe with broccoli thrown in! The cheese sauce is a pretty standard butter, flour, and milk sauce with plenty of cheese melted into it! I like to season it with onions, garlic, and a touch of mustard but you can use your favourites! (See below the recipe for some of the ones that I like to use!) Taking less than 30 minutes to make, this recipe is perfect for any night of the week, including busy work nights!
Broccoli and Cheese Pasta
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Servings: 4
A quick and easy pasta with broccoli and plenty of melted cheese!
ingredients
- 1 pound pasta (gluten-free for gluten-free)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (rice flour for gluten-free)
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
- 2 cups sharp/old/aged cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan cheese), grated (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups broccoli, chopped
directions
- Start cooking the pasta as directed on the package.
- Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, add the onion and cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the garlic, sprinkle in the flour and cook, mixing, for 1 minute.
- Add the milk, bring to a simmer, and cook, mixing, until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
- Reduce the heat, add the cheeses and let them melt into the sauce before seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the broccoli and cook until just tender, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cooked and drained pasta, mix and enjoy!
Note: In order for the broccoli to cook until tender in the sauce, it needs to be chopped into small pieces. If you would prefer to use larger chunks of broccoli, you can add it to the pasta as it cooks/boils, for the last 2-3 minutes of boiling time.
Option: Omit the onion and garlic, optionally replacing with 1/2 teaspoon onion powder and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
Option: Add 1/2 cup diced carrots.
Option: Add 1/2 cup diced celery.
Option: Replace some or all of the milk with chicken or vegetable broth.
Option: Add 1 pinch ground nutmeg.
Option: Add 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or Cajun seasoning, or Greek seasoning, etc.
Option: Omit the ground mustard.
Option: Add a dash of hot sauce, chili sauce, sriracha, gochujang, etc.
Option: Use your favourite melty cheese such as cheddar, gruyere, swiss, havarti, gouda, etc.
Option: Omit the parmesan or replace it with pecorino, asiago, etc.
Option: Add cooked and crumbled bacon!
Option: Add diced ham!
Option: Add cooked sausage!
Option: Omit the onion and garlic, optionally replacing with 1/2 teaspoon onion powder and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
Option: Add 1/2 cup diced carrots.
Option: Add 1/2 cup diced celery.
Option: Replace some or all of the milk with chicken or vegetable broth.
Option: Add 1 pinch ground nutmeg.
Option: Add 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or Cajun seasoning, or Greek seasoning, etc.
Option: Omit the ground mustard.
Option: Add a dash of hot sauce, chili sauce, sriracha, gochujang, etc.
Option: Use your favourite melty cheese such as cheddar, gruyere, swiss, havarti, gouda, etc.
Option: Omit the parmesan or replace it with pecorino, asiago, etc.
Option: Add cooked and crumbled bacon!
Option: Add diced ham!
Option: Add cooked sausage!
Nutrition Facts: Calories 436, Fat 28g (Saturated 18g, Trans 0), Cholesterol 85mg, Sodium 417mg, Carbs 48g (Fiber 9.5g, Sugars 4.9g), Protein 29g
Nutrition by: 
I was cooking for two, so I used 8oz pasta, that was way too too much for two people. I added diced carrots & celery, also a bit of cauliflower & the broccoli. It was amazing, it didn’t need any extra seasoning.I did not add salt & pepper.