One-Pot 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-pot pasta bake featuring tender broccoli florets and a creamy cheese sauce that kids love, all made with minimal fuss. This Italian-inspired kid-friendly recipe, ready in about 40 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: 10 min Cook: 30 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. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz penne pasta and cook for 5 minutes until just tender but still firm. Add 3 cups broccoli florets to the pot and cook together with pasta for 2 more minutes. Drain pasta and broccoli and set aside.
  2. 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, whisking constantly until the mixture is smooth and bubbly.
  3. Step 3: Gradually whisk in 3 cups milk, continuing to whisk until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder. Remove from heat.
  5. Step 5: Return the drained pasta and broccoli to the pot and gently fold to combine with the cheese sauce.
  6. Step 6: Transfer everything to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil over the top.
  7. Step 7: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until bubbly and the top is lightly golden. Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

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