One-Pot Lemon Broccoli Pasta (Printable)

Bright pasta with broccoli, lemon, and garlic—all cooked in one pot for easy cleanup.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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, plus more for serving
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1/2 tsp sea salt, or to taste
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
12 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

→ Garnish

13 - Fresh basil or parsley, chopped

# Steps:

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, avoiding browning.
02 - Add dried pasta, broccoli florets, vegetable broth, and milk to the pot. Stir thoroughly to combine and bring to a boil.
03 - Reduce heat to simmer. Cook uncovered for 10-12 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until pasta reaches al dente texture and liquid reduces to a silky sauce.
04 - Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - Remove from heat and let stand for 2-3 minutes allowing sauce to thicken. Serve hot with additional Parmesan and fresh herbs if desired.

# Chef’s Tips:

01 -
  • The pasta starch released into the cooking liquid creates a silky restaurant-quality sauce without any heavy cream
  • Everything cooks in one vessel in under 30 minutes, meaning dinner is ready fast with minimal cleanup
  • Fresh lemon and tender broccoli make this taste like spring regardless of the season
02 -
  • Stir frequently during simmering—dairy and starchy pasta can stick to the bottom and scorch, which ruins the entire pot
  • The sauce thickens considerably in those last few minutes off heat, so do not panic if it looks slightly loose when you first remove it from the stove
03 -
  • Break long pasta in half before adding it to the pot so it is easier to stir and serve
  • Grate your lemon zest before juicing—the zest comes off much more easily from a whole lemon
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