One-Pot Creamy Broccoli and Herb Pasta is a quick and easy weeknight side dish that’s both delicious and nutritious!
Got some veggie haters in the house? I have a one-pot creamy broccoli pasta recipe that’ll turn even the most stubborn into veggie-loving machines (or at least, trick them into eating their greens).
With a light yet creamy sauce and perfectly cooked pasta, this dish is already a winner. The finely chopped broccoli is so sneaky that it’ll make your family wonder if they’re actually eating veggies at all!
This is also a one-pot wonder that’s easy to make and easy to clean up, which means less time spent in the kitchen and more time spent enjoying a delicious meal with your favorite people. Plus, with all the essential vitamins and minerals packed in, you can feel good about the food on the table.
So go ahead and give this recipe a try – your taste buds (and your sanity) will thank you for it!
What do I need to make one-pot creamy broccoli and herb pasta?
The best part about this side dish is that it only has 5 major ingredients and some spices you might already have on hand:
- Almond milk (unsweetened original) or any other plant-based or non-fat milk
- Short pasta (I like shells or penne)
- 1/3 fat cream cheese
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Broccoli, finely chopped (from about 1 medium broccoli crown)
SPICES
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Dried thyme
- Dried oregano
- kosher salt
- ground black pepper
The best part is that all of these ingredients go into one pot, so just measure out the ingredients and let the creamy pasta cook away!
Why Cook it in one pot?
You know the obvious answer is convenience, but let’s get into why this method can make pasta dishes SUPERIOR.
I have to admit that I was skeptical about the one-pot pasta recipes when I first stumbled across them. As an Italian gal, this method was counter to everything I had been taught.
But if you want to lighten up a pasta dish, especially a creamy one, the most important element that you need is something to thicken the sauce.
Without the natural fats of heavy cream and tons of cheese, you don’t have an emulsifier to make the sauce cling to the pasta.
But all Italians know to save some of the starchy pasta cooking water when making a sauce, right? It helps any sauce bind to the pasta. So why not do it all in one pot?
recipes that go great with one-pot creamy broccoli and herb pasta
- Mini BBQ Cheddar Meatloaves
- Skillet Turkey Meatloaves
- All-In-One Burger
- Air Fyer Blackened Chicken Tenders
I’d love to hear from you if you make this recipe! Leaving a starred review and comment below helps my blog grow. I’m always grateful when you can take the time to do that!
It also makes my day when you share your pics on Instagram and tag me (@litecravings). Don’t forget to use #litecravingsrecipes to make sure I see it. If I don’t get a chance to scroll through my tags quickly enough, I won’t see your post. I always make a point to look through the hashtags, though, so I’ll see it there!
One-Pot Creamy Broccoli and Herb Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dried, short pasta like penne, rotini, shells, etc.
- 2 cups unsweetened, original almond milk
- 1 1/4 cups fat free chicken or veggie stock
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2-1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 cups finely chopped broccoli
- 2 tbsp light cream cheese
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot with a lid, combine the pasta, almond milk, chicken stock, and all seasonings. Bring to a boil, cover, and lower heat to medium-high. Cook for about 5 minute.
- Add in broccoli and mix. Cover again an cook for another 8-10 minutes. Lower heat of it bubbles over.
- Remove lid and turn heat to low. Add cheeses and mix until melted through and sauce is slightly thick, about 2-3 minutes.
I made this last week and it was absolutely delicious, my entire family loved it! I didn’t have lite cream cheese, so I used Laughing Cow wedges and it worked. The serving size is perfect as is. However, we ate it with grilled chicken and a salad using the caesar dressing from this site. Thank you for another AMAZING and quick recipe. The best part? Hardly any clean-up!
It was 4:45 and I was frantically looking for a quick dinner when I saw this recipe. I had everything on hand (I used unsweetened oat milk instead because my almond milk was vanilla flavored) and it came together quickly. It was sooo good, I will definitely be adding to my regular rotation. I topped with 1/2 a serving of NotChicken nuggets, keeping it vegetarian. Great recipe Geri!