One-Pot Cheesy Broccoli Pasta Bake
A creamy, cheesy pasta casserole with tender broccoli florets, perfect for a family-friendly dinner that kids will love. This American-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs elbow macaroni, 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.
Ingredients
- 12 oz elbow macaroni
- 3 cups, chopped into bite-sized pieces broccoli florets
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 cups, whole or 2% milk
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 cup, for topping bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add 12 oz elbow macaroni along with 3 cups of chopped broccoli florets. Cook for 7 minutes until pasta is al dente and broccoli is tender-crisp. Drain and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same pot, melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in 3 tbsp all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute until bubbling and light golden.
- Step 3: Slowly whisk in 3 cups milk, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese and 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese until melted and smooth.
- Step 4: Season the cheese sauce with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder. Add the drained macaroni and broccoli back into the sauce and stir gently to combine.
- Step 5: Transfer the mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. In a small bowl, toss 1/2 cup bread crumbs with 1 tbsp olive oil, then sprinkle evenly over the top.
- Step 6: Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and golden on top. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
