Oven-Baked Cheesy Broccoli Pasta Casserole

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.

Tender pasta and broccoli florets baked in a cheesy sauce create a comforting, kid-friendly dinner that’s perfect for little helpers in the kitchen. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs penne pasta, fresh 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. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces penne pasta and 3 cups fresh broccoli florets. Cook for 7-8 minutes until pasta is al dente and broccoli is tender-crisp. Drain and set aside.
  2. Step 2: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter. Whisk in 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute until bubbly and golden.
  3. Step 3: Gradually whisk in 2 1/2 cups milk, continuing to whisk until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.
  4. Step 4: Remove sauce from heat and stir in 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder until smooth.
  5. Step 5: Combine the drained pasta and broccoli with the cheese sauce in a large mixing bowl. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
  6. Step 6: Sprinkle 1/2 cup bread crumbs evenly over the top. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

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