Easy Vegetarian Broccoli Pasta is a simple 3-ingredient, budget-friendly recipe of tender pasta, fresh broccoli, and your favorite vegetarian pasta sauce, made without meat.
Broccoli pasta is an easy-prep dish made with 3 simple pantry ingredients for a flavorful, budget-friendly meal.
Have it as a quick weeknight dinner, or prep it ahead for a delicious lunch for work or school.
Eat it hot or cold.
And leftovers are delicious!
The broccoli and tomato sauce have health benefits. In fact, so does the pasta!
Some useful cooking terms
What does "savory" mean?
"Savory" refers to foods that are not sweet, such as foods that taste salty, spicy, or herbal.
What does it mean when recipes say "to taste" about an ingredient?
When recipes say "to taste," it means that you can put in as little or as much as you like to your own taste. Some recipes have many ingredients that a cook can adjust to their own taste when cooking (not so much when baking though).
The best way to calculate what your taste is with a recipe that you are not yet familiar with is to first taste the dish and then add the "to taste" ingredient GRADUALLY, a little at a time-a splash of this or a pinch of that-until the dish is just the way you like it.
Make sure to stir the ingredient after each time you add it so that the flavor will distribute evenly and become part of the dish. Then taste again. Repeat until you reach your personal preference.
Note: If you plan on using the recipe again, it is highly recommended to make a note of what and how much you added so that you can refer to it next time.
What does it mean when a recipe says that an ingredient is "optional"?
If an ingredient is "optional," it means that you can add it in or not based on your own preference. An optional ingredient can be flavor-related (i.e., salty, sweet, spicy, etc.), appearance-related (garnish), or even something like nuts or chocolate chips in baking.
What do those silly measurement expressions really mean?
Drop - ¹/₆₄ teaspoon (or less-it's however a literal drop comes out)
Smidgen - ¹/₃₂ teaspoon
Pinch - ¹⁄₁₆ teaspoon (what you can grab between your finger and thumb)
Dash - ⅛ teaspoon (what comes out when you shake out of a shaker or bottle)
Tad - ¼ teaspoon
Dollop-a glob on a spoon (like with mayonnaise or ice cream)
Scant-a scant cup is almost a cup, just below the line.
Heaping-above the line of the spoon (teaspoon, tablespoon)*
A Little About Broccoli
Broccoli is part of a group called "cole" crops, which also includes Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, and collard greens.
It began growing in the Mediterranean over 1500 years ago and was grown in the Roman Empire. By the 18th century, it had spread throughout Europe and was brought to North America by Italian immigrants sometime in the 19th century.
Broccoli is considered to be a healthy vegetable. It contains vitamins, nutrients, and fiber, and it is low in calories!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use any type of pasta for this recipe?
Yes, this recipe is very versatile! While short shapes like penne, fusilli, or bowtie (farfalle) hold onto the broccoli and sauce best, you can use any pasta you have in your pantry.
Is this recipe freezer-friendly?
While the pasta itself freezes well, the texture of the broccoli can change slightly once thawed. For the best experience, we recommend keeping this dish in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheating it in the microwave or on the stovetop.
What is the best way to reheat leftovers?
For the best results, reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. If it seems a little dry after being in the fridge, add a small splash of water or a drizzle of olive oil before reheating to loosen up the sauce.
Is this recipe customizable with other vegetables?
Yes, you can add whatever chopped vegetables you like. However, since this recipe calls for frozen broccoli, which is precooked, you need to make sure any other vegetables are precooked as well.
What is needed to make easy broccoli pasta?
I hardly ever meal plan, so I like to keep a cupboard full of seasonings, spices, veggies, and canned goods in my kitchen to use whenever the mood strikes.
But these are all you need to have on hand to make this recipe!
pasta
chopped broccoli
pasta sauce
Love broccoli?
Try these:
Broccoli Kugel
New York Deli-Style Broccoli Salad
Broccoli Quiche
Love pasta?
Try: New York Deli-Style Macaroni Salad
Easy Vegetarian Broccoli Pasta Recipe
Easy prep pasta siah with chopped broccoli and your favorite vegetarian sauce. Simple and vegetarian—made without meat or dairy.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of pasta
- 14-16 ounces of your favorite vegetarian pasta sauce (or more, depending on how saucy you want it)
- 16 ounces of broccoli (frozen or steamed), chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta in a pot according to instructions on package and drain.
- Add pasta sauce and chopped broccoli to the pot with the drained pasta.
- Place on medium flame and cook for approximately 10 minutes, mixing occasionally.
Notes
Feel free to put in more broccoli, if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 762Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 5416mgCarbohydrates: 120gFiber: 26gSugar: 62gProtein: 23g
