This quick & easy creamy pasta con broccoli dish tastes rich and luxurious, but comes together in under 30 minutes using only a few simple, fresh ingredients!

vegan pasta con broccoli in a bowl

The simplest weeknight pasta that actually tastes good:

If you don’t have a lot of ingredients on hand but still want a delicious, satisfying, and easy dinner to whip up in the middle of the week, then you need to try this pasta con broccoli.

It’s so good, I even serve it for date night occasionally (it’s a battle between that, my gnocchi alla Sorrentina, and my Marry Me Tofu!), and for my family (all eaters love it- even kids!). 

close up of pasta con broccoli in a pot

Sometimes referred to as pasta ai broccoli in Italy, essentially it’s a simple pasta dish served with a creamy and “cheesy” broccoli sauce that you don’t even need to puree. Just simply mash the broccoli in the pan, mix with the remaining ingredients, and coat over your pasta!

And the best part is that most of these ingredients you probably have on hand- it’s naturally dairy free (and vegan!) and you’d never know it. 

Ready in less than 30 minutes, and you have the most sensational (and unbelievably so) vegan dinner recipe that you’ll be wowed was that easy!

Simple Ingredients:

  • Broccoli
  • Vegan mozzarella: I have a liquid vegan mozzarella recipe that’s nut free and soy free on my blog. However, you can also use Miyoko’s liquid vegan mozzarella. I also topped with vegan parmesan cheese- I used Violife.
  • Garlic & Shallots
  • Extra virgin olive oil: You can also swap in vegan butter here. 
  • Pasta
  • Lemon: Adding a bit of lemon helps to brighten the dish, and reminds me a bit of my asparagus and pea pasta dish!
close up of pasta con broccoli

That’s how simple this pasta con broccoli is! However, it tastes like an absolute dream- so deliciously flavorful and rich, you’ll realize how easy and delicious plant based cooking really is.

Overview: How to make pasta con broccoli step by step

For the full written instructions and ingredient measurements, see the bottom of this post in the recipe card. You can also hit the “jump to recipe” button at the top of this post! Here, we’ll go over a brief overview of the steps, along with providing visuals for a better understanding of the recipe.

blanching the broccoli
First, we’ll steam the broccoli in a pot. It’s crucial to steam the broccoli this way, as we’ll add in the pasta later to this same water!
sautéed broccoli
While the broccoli is steaming, saute garlic and shallots. Then add in the broccoli and lightly saute. Make sure you keep the broccoli water, as now we’ll cook the pasta!
mashed broccoli in a pan
Mash the broccoli in the pan with either a potato masher or a fork.
finishing the broccoli sauce
Stir in the vegan mozzarella cheese until melted.
stirring in the pasta water to the broccoli sauce
Then add in the reserved pasta water.
folding in the al dente pasta
Toss in the al dente pasta to evenly coat. Then serve warm with fresh lemon and grated vegan parmesan cheese!

Substitutions & add-ins:

If you want to switch up this pasta ai broccoli a bit, here are a few substitutions and add-ins you can make that will taste great!

  • Swap the vegan mozzarella: Use all vegan parmesan, or switch in vegan heavy cream or cashew cream (I also have an oat creamer coming soon!).
  • Swap the broccoli: You can use cauliflower for more of an Alfredo-style sauce, zucchini, peas, spinach, or even asparagus!
  • Add in: Saute mushrooms, zucchini, spinach, kale, or your favorite veggie with the garlic and shallots
  • Stir in: Cannellini beans, crispy tofu, or even lentils for a heartier meal!

Can I make this pasta con broccoli gluten free?

Definitely! I make this pasta con broccoli with brown rice pasta all of the time and it works great. Jovial Foods is my absolute favorite for gluten-free pasta.

vegan pasta con broccoli in a bowl

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If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. This helps others to find the recipes! As always, I absolutely love to see your beautiful creations on Instagram and Pinterest, so be sure to tag me there as well!

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vegan pasta con broccoli in a bowl

30 Minute Simple Pasta Con Broccoli Recipe- Dairy free!

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  • Author: Britt Berlin
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 25
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This quick & easy creamy pasta con broccoli dish tastes rich and luxurious, but comes together in under 30 minutes using only a few simple, fresh ingredients!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 1/2 cups broccoli florets (about 2–3 small heads of broccoli)
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or vegan butter
  • 6–7 cloves garlic
  • 1 shallot
  • 1/2 cup liquid vegan mozzarella
  • 1 cup reserved pasta water
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
  • Sea salt + pepper to taste
  • 16 ounces homemade pasta or store bought pasta of your choice
  • Vegan parmesan cheese, to top
  • Squeeze of fresh lemon juice, to finish

Instructions

  1. Prep: Clean the broccoli, and dice the broccoli into broccoli florets. Set aside. Mince the garlic and shallot and set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Boil the broccoli: Once the water is boiling, add in the broccoli. Cover and let steam for 5-7 minutes, or until fork tender.
  3. While the broccoli is boiling: In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Add in the garlic and shallots, and saute until the garlic and shallots are lightly browned and aromatic. Reduce the heat to low/simmer if the broccoli is still cooking.
  4. Add the broccoli to the pan: Use a slotted spoon or colander to remove the broccoli without dumping out the water. Place the broccoli into the pan with the garlic and shallots. Bring the heat up to medium low, and keep the water pot boiling.
  5. Boil the pasta: Add in the pasta to the broccoli water that’s now boiling again. Cook according to packaging instructions.
  6. While the pasta is boiling: Saute the broccoli in the pan with the garlic and shallots. Then use a fork or a potato masher to carefully mash the broccoli in the pan. This should be fairly easy, as the broccoli is fully cooked and soft. Add in the liquid vegan mozzarella cheese, along with sea salt and pepper. Stir to combine and reduce the heat to a simmer.
  7. Add in the pasta: Once the pasta is al dente, reserve 1 cup of pasta water and add it to the broccoli and cheese mixture. Strain the pasta or pasta noodles, then pour the cooked pasta into the broccoli sauce pan. Stir to combine.
  8. Season and cook: Season the sauce more if desired, and stir to completely coat the pasta in the broccoli sauce.
  9. Serve and enjoy! Once coated in the sauce, serve the broccoli pasta with vegan parmesan cheese and lemon juice to finish, and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.

Notes

Gluten free: Swap in your favorite gluten free pasta here.