One-Pan Creamy Broccoli Pasta Bake

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.

A comforting one-pan pasta bake featuring tender broccoli and a creamy cheese sauce that kids love to eat and even help make. This Italian-inspired kid-friendly recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs penne pasta, broccoli florets, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 6, 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: 15 min Cook: 35 min Serves 6 Italian cuisine 400 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large oven-safe skillet or casserole dish, toss 12 oz penne pasta and 3 cups broccoli florets with 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  2. Step 2: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter. Whisk in 3 tbsp all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute until bubbly and lightly golden.
  3. Step 3: Gradually whisk in 3 cups whole milk, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5-7 minutes.
  4. Step 4: Remove sauce from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder until melted and smooth.
  5. Step 5: Pour the cheese sauce evenly over the pasta and broccoli in the skillet, stirring gently to combine.
  6. Step 6: Cover the skillet with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until the top is bubbly and lightly browned.
  7. Step 7: Let the pasta bake rest for 5 minutes before serving warm.

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