Single Serving Creamy Broccoli Pasta
Need a quick, delicious meal for one? This single-serving creamy broccoli pasta is packed with flavor and comes together in just 20 minutes, making it the perfect choice for a speedy lunch or an easy mid-week dinner.
Designed for single servings, it’s perfect for a quick lunch or a cozy dinner without any leftovers or complicated steps.
The dish combines broccoli, almonds, Parmesan, garlic, and pasta for a flavorful meal. The best part? It only takes 5 minutes to prep and 15 minutes to cook, so you can have it ready in just 20 minutes.
Let’s dive in!
🌟 Recipe Tips
- Quality of Ingredients: Use fresh broccoli and high-quality Parmesan cheese for the best flavor.
- Pasta Choice: Choose short pasta like penne or fusilli for creamy sauces. Cook it al dente to prevent it from becoming too soft.
- Balancing Flavors: Sauté garlic until golden, not browned, to avoid bitterness. Use almonds sparingly to complement the creaminess.
- Broccoli Cooking: Cook broccoli until just tender to keep its color and texture.
- Sauce Consistency: If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of pasta water to thin it out and help it stick to the pasta.
🥘 Ingredients & Substitutes
- Broccoli adds color, crunch, and nutrients. If you don’t have broccoli, use cauliflower or asparagus. They keep the dish’s integrity while offering unique flavors and textures.
- Almonds add crunch and nuttiness. If you can’t use almonds, try pine nuts or walnuts. They give a similar texture and richness.
- Parmesan Cheese adds a salty, umami depth. If you don’t have Parmesan, use Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano. They offer a similar salty, nutty flavor.
- Garlic gives the dish its distinctive aroma and flavor. If you don’t have garlic, use shallots or a small amount of onion. They won’t taste exactly the same but will still add depth and aroma.
- Pasta is the base, providing substance for the creamy sauce. If you need a healthier or gluten-free option, use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta. Both work well and keep the dish comforting.
👩🍳 Directions
Start by filling a saucepan with water and bring it to a boil. While you wait, wash and chop the broccoli, separating the florets from the stem and peeling the stem.
Once the water boils, boil the broccoli stem for 3 minutes. Then add the florets and cook for another 3 minutes until al dente.
Remove the broccoli with a strainer, but keep the water to cook the pasta later.
Transfer the broccoli to a blender. In the same pot with the remaining water, start boiling the pasta.
While the pasta cooks, add almonds, Parmesan cheese, and garlic to the broccoli in the blender. Add three teaspoons of olive oil and blend until creamy.
When the pasta is al dente, drain it, reserving some pasta water. Add the pesto sauce to the pasta.
Mix well, adding reserved pasta water if needed for consistency.
Serve immediately while hot.
🍴 How to Double the Recipe:
Doubling this broccoli pasta recipe is easy and perfect if you’re cooking for two or want leftovers. Just double each ingredient: use two servings of pasta, double the broccoli, almonds, Parmesan, and garlic.
When cooking the pasta, use a larger pot to handle the extra volume and prevent sticking. For the sauce, use a larger pan to sauté the garlic and mix everything without overcrowding.
Watch the sauce consistency; you might need a bit more pasta water or cheese to get the right creaminess. Taste and adjust the seasoning, as doubling the ingredients might require a bit more salt and pepper for the perfect flavor.
❄️ Storage
As this pasta is very easy to make, I recommend making it just as much as you know that you will eat in one serving to enjoy it taste.
However, if you get some leftovers, here are a few tips on how to store it.
Refrigeration
- Duration: Your Creamy Broccoli Pasta can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Ensure it’s cooled to room temperature before refrigerating.
- Storage Method: Place the pasta in an airtight container to prevent it from absorbing odors from other foods in the fridge and to retain its moisture.
- Consideration: Cream-based sauces can separate or lose their smooth texture when chilled. It’s best consumed fresh, but if you need to store it, keep in mind that the texture might change slightly.
Reheating
Reheat in a pan over low to medium heat. Add a little milk or cream while reheating to help the sauce regain its creamy texture. Stir gently and continuously to prevent the sauce from separating. You can also reheat it in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds to ensure even heating.
Additional Tips
- Adding Freshness: When reheating, consider adding a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan or some fresh herbs to revive the flavors.
- Avoid Overheating: Overheating can cause the pasta to become mushy and the sauce to separate. Reheat only until it’s warm enough to eat.
🤔 FAQs
Can I Use Frozen Broccoli Instead of Fresh?
What Should I Do With Leftover Ingredients?
📔 Recipe Card:
Single Serving Creamy Broccoli Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 oz Broccoli
- salt
- 9 pieces almonds
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoons Parmesan
- 1 clove garlic small
- 3 oz pasta
Instructions
- Start by filling a saucepan with water and bring it to a boil, then thoroughly wash and chop the broccoli, separating the florets from the stem and peeling the stem.
- Once the water starts boiling, first boil the broccoli stem for 3 minutes, then add the florets and let them cook for another 3 minutes until al dente, and remove the broccoli using a strainer, keeping the water in the pot.5 oz Broccoli, salt
- Transfer the broccoli to a blender, and in the same pot with the remaining water, start boiling the pasta.3 oz pasta
- While the pasta is cooking, add almonds, Parmesan cheese, and garlic to the broccoli in the blender, then add three teaspoons of olive oil and blend to get a creamy pesto.9 pieces almonds, 1 tablespoons Parmesan, 1 clove garlic, 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- When the pasta is al dente, drain it, reserving some of the pasta water, and then add the pesto sauce to the pasta.
- Mix the pasta well with the sauce, adding the reserved pasta water as needed to achieve the desired consistency.
- Serve the pasta immediately while it's hot.
Nutrition
Your Turn
I’d love to hear how your single-serving creamy broccoli pasta turned out! Please take a moment to rate this recipe and share your comments below. Whether you followed it exactly or added your own twist, your feedback is invaluable.
Sharing your experience helps me and inspires others to try new variations. Your tips and tricks could make a big difference for someone else. Let’s build a community of shared tastes and experiences!
