This Easy Garlic Broccoli Pasta is the perfect family dinner! Using one pot, 5-ingredients, and made in less than 20 minutes, what’s not to love? Plus, the entire family loves this healthy and easy dinner – from baby to adults!

Nutritional Information

• The fiber found in broccoli promotes gut health and heart health.
• It helps support your immune system with the help of vitamin C.
• Broccoli is high in vitamin K, which is important in blood clotting.
• The antioxidants found in broccoli may help protect against certain types of cancers.
• Vitamin A and antioxidants found in broccoli promote eye health

Cheesy Broccoli Pasta

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 16 small kid-size portions
Age: 12+ months 

Ingredients

• 1 16oz box of pasta, any shape you prefer
• 3 cups broccoli florets, fresh or frozen
• 4 tbsp butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded or grated
• red pepper flakes, (optional for grown ups)

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add in the pasta. When there are 3 minutes left in the cooking time, add in the fresh broccoli. If using frozen broccoli, add in when there are 4 minutes left in the cooking time.
2. IMPORTANT: reserve 2 cups of pasta water before straining.
3. In a large colander, strain the pasta and broccoli.
4. Place the same large pot over medium-low heat and add butter. Once melted, add in the minced garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes or until light brown, stirring often.
5. Add the pasta and broccoli back into the large pot. Add in the Parmesan and 1 cup of reserved pasta water. Stir for 1 minute or until the cheese is completely incorporated. If pasta is too dry, add in more of the reserved water 1/4 cup at a time. Depending on the brand and type of pasta you may need to add in the full 1 additional cup. I had to add a total of 1 1/2 cup of the reserved water to the pasta in the photos. I find that I have to add in more water for some brands of gluten-free pasta.
6. Serve and enjoy.

Notes 

Age: 9+ months

Yield: 16 small toddler or kids size portions (2 kids portion would be 1 small adult portion) 

Storage: store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

Broccoli: you can use either fresh or frozen broccoli. If using frozen broccoli, make sure to cook for an additional 1 minute.