Lemony Broccoli Pasta with Garlic Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Bright and simple pasta tossed with tender broccoli florets, garlic butter, and a fresh squeeze of lemon for a lively kid-pleasing meal. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 20 minutes, pairs pasta (penne or fusilli), broccoli florets, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 350 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 oz pasta and 2 cups broccoli florets. Cook together for 8-10 minutes until pasta is al dente and broccoli is tender. Drain and reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Add drained pasta and broccoli to the skillet. Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Toss well to combine.
  4. Step 4: Add 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 2-3 tbsp reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce. Toss until the cheese melts and coats the pasta evenly.
  5. Step 5: Serve immediately with extra Parmesan on top if desired.

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