This easy five ingredient meal idea will save you on those busy weeknights.
Easy Parmesan and Broccoli Pasta
My family knows that at the start of the week, they’re getting Mommy’s “broccoli pasta.” Even though my oldest with grunt (he’s not a big fan of broccoli), they all end up gobbling it up.
There’s something about the cavatappi, the way it coats in the Parmesan sauce. The broccoli is chopped up so there aren’t any big chunks and it layers into the pasta.
The pasta sauce is simply made with pasta water, grated Parmesan cheese and simple pantry seasonings like garlic powder, oregano, and salt and pepper. We love ours covered with red pepper flakes, but for the younger ones, we skip the spicy kick.
The best part about this meal is that it’s great to have in your back pocket for those nights when you just don’t know what to serve for dinner. I’ve use roasted carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, peppers, and the list goes on. I think keeping it to one vegetable is better (especially for pickier eaters.)
Our favorite proteins to serve this up with are canned tuna, chicken or pork sausage, roasted chicken, vegan sausages, and even fried eggs! Keep this recipe on hand and make it yours.
Easy Parmesan and Broccoli Pasta
Ingredients
- 16 ounces broccoli florets
- extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
- salt and pepper
- Parmesan cheese enough to yield 1 cup grated cheese
- 1 8- ounce box of Banza cavatappi
- if desired: a protein of choice to serve with the pasta tuna, sausage, chicken, etc
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- as many red pepper flakes as you like
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the broccoli in a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with 1 teaspoon of the garlic powder, salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast the broccoli for 30 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes, until fork tender. Transfer the broccoli to a cutting board and roughly chop up the broccoli.
- Grate your Parmesan cheese to yield 1 cup of grated cheese. Set aside.
- 10 minutes after starting the broccoli, bring a medium pot filled halfway with lightly salted water to a boil. Add the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook for 6-8 minutes or according to your pasta's directions. Drain and rinse, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- Meanwhile, cook your protein to your preference. I usually serve this with chicken sausage, but sometimes I'll just stir in canned tuna or top with a fried egg at the end.
- Once the pasta is drained and rinsed, add it back to the pot along with the cooked chopped broccoli, half of the Parmesan cheese, half of the pasta water, the rest of the garlic powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir well, adding more water if you want to create more of a sauce and more Parmesan cheese if desired (or save the rest for the end garnish.)
- Divide the pasta into bowls, serve with your desired protein, and garnish with more Parmesan cheese.
