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Super Easy One-Pot Broccoli Cheese Pesto Pasta. Trust me, this is the pasta that everyone will beg you to make again and again. Shortcut pasta and broccoli are boiled together until al dente. Then, a splash of milk and a handful of melty Colby jack and cheddar cheese are mixed in, creating a creamy, cheesy pasta. Flavor this pasta with a couple of spoonfuls of basil pesto and fresh basil. Simple, but totally delicious!
A very simple recipe to slowly welcome in spring! With warmer, nicer weather approaching, I’m in that weird transitional phase of the year. One day it’s a full-on snowstorm. So, of course, all you want is a pot of chili simmering on the stove and beer bread in the oven. But then, the next day, it’s bright and sunny, and the snow is slowly melting. And you’re left craving the first big spring salad of the season!
I always feel so confused recipe-wise this time of year! But this pasta is a wonderful balance between comforting and fresh for spring! As you can see, it’s very cheesy, but the additions of fresh broccoli, basil pesto, and fresh basil make it feel just a smidge brighter for spring!
We love this! And what’s even more important, this dish is quick to throw together and so delicious!
Essentially, this is a fancy stove-top mac and cheese. I’ve been excited to use this new cut of pasta I ordered on Amazon, and when I wrote this idea down in my list of “recipe ideas,” I was immediately excited to make it.
I love a pasta dish full of broccoli—it’s one of my favorite vegetables. And when you add a sauce like basil pesto, it becomes even more delicious! Both Mom and I were very excited for me to test this one out. I was so sure it would come out YUMMY.
And it did not disappoint. This cheese and broccoli pasta is going to quickly become loved by all!
These are the details
Step 1: boil the pasta and broccoli
Use a pot that will be large enough to hold both the pasta and the broccoli. Fill it with around 4 cups of water.
Once the water has come to a boil, add the pasta and the broccoli. Boil together until al dente, do not drain the pasta.
Step 2: stir in all the remaining ingredients
The key is to use a touch of cream or milk to add a bit of creaminess to make a sauce. Then for the cheeses, I love using a mix of melty Colby jack cheese and white cheddar cheese. You can use any melty cheese you love. I think a yummy gouda cheese or fontina cheese would also be great!
To season, I like to use garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a couple of tablespoons of hot sauce. The hot sauce doesn’t make this spicy by any means; it just gives the pasta a nice balanced flavor.
Step 3: the pesto
Now mix in the pesto. During the winter, I use store-bought pesto. I always keep it on hand to create quick recipes.
Mix the pesto with the parmesan cheese and add a handful of fresh basil. The basil will immediately smell so good—almost summery!
Step 4: serve
Serve the cheese pasta directly out of the pot, then top with freshly cracked pepper and/or a small grating of parmesan!
This dish is great on its own or paired with a seared steak or roasted chicken for a side of protein.We all really loved this!
Looking for other one-pot recipes? Here are my favorites:Â
French Onion Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto
One Skillet White Chicken Chili Bake
Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Lastly, if you make this Easy One Pot Broccoli Cheese Pesto Pasta, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
One Pot Broccoli Cheese Pesto Pasta
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 525 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 pound short-cut pasta
- 3 cups chopped broccoli
- 1 cup heavy cream or whole milk
- 2 cups shredded colby jack or cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 3 tablespoons basil pesto
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/3 cup fresh chopped basil
- Kosher salt and black pepper
Instructions
- 1. In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil over high heat. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, the pasta, and broccoli. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes. Do not drain the water. 2. Stir in the milk. Add the cheeses, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, hot sauce, and pesto, and stir until melted and creamy. Remove from the heat. Stir in the parmesan and basil. Season with salt and pepper. If the sauce feels thick, add ¼ cup milk or water to thin.3. Divide the pasta and broccoli between bowls. Top with black pepper.
Awesome quick recipe! I didn’t have hot sauce, so I put a tsp of cayenne pepper and it was great!
Hey Charlotte,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your comment, so glad it was a winner:) x
This was easy to make as well as delicious, although far too salty since you keep the salted water and then add salt when it’s done. It was a challenge to find a small pasta that had a similar cooking time to the recipe (8 minutes), but I finally used 3/4 pound of small shells, which cooked well at 9-10 minutes. In any case, the flavor was good, and I’ll be making it again, with some modifications!
Hey Helen,
Fantastic! Love to hear that this dish turned out nicely for you, thanks so much for making it! Have a great weekend:)
Just want to say that this is my new favorite!! TOTALLY worked with gf pasta! Love love love
Hey Cory,
Wonderful!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear that it was enjoyed! x
Made it! Added chopped grilled chicken, delicious!
Awesome! Thanks a lot for trying this dish, Matt! So glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
Loved it and so easy and fast to make. I also substituted chili flakes for hot sauce – delicious!
Hey Linda,
Wonderful!! So glad to hear that this dish was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have a great weekend! xT
This turned out so well. I used frozen broccoli and it turned out great! Super tasty, kid approved. Really easy and quick recipe and I love that it’s all in one pot.
Hey Lauren,
Awesome! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your feedback, so glad it turned out well! Xx
Fantastic, Quick and so easy!
Instead of cheddar I subbed 1 cup Fontina and 1 cup guyere. I omitted the pesto but added 2 teaspoons of Italian Seasoning and 1 teaspoon Red Chili flakes, leaving out the hot sauce. Other than the substitutions I followed the recipe using listed ingredients and we loved it!!
Hey Jeanne,
So glad to hear this recipe turned out nicely for you, thanks for making it and your comment:)
When I double the recipe the directions still states 4 cups water. Would it be 8 cups water to start with?
Hi Sharon,
Yes, you will also want to double the water amount. I would make sure you have a pot large enough to handle all of these ingredients:) I hope you love this recipe! xT
This was quite good. I used almost exclusively broccoli stems since that was what I had on hand. I think it needs something else added. Not sure what, but will tinker with it next time.
Hey Eileen,
Love to hear this! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your feedback! Have the best weekend! xT
The whole family enjoyed this!
Love to hear this, Michaele! Thanks so much for trying the recipe! Have a great day! xT
If I make this again I would cook the pasta most of the way first, then add the broccoli near the end of boiling. I followed directions and cooked broccoli and pasta together for 8 minutes. The pasta was still hard and the broccoli was mushy.
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Jessica!