15 minute Butter Garlic Pasta made with frozen broccoli. This is a quick weeknight dinner meal that my kids love. The simple sauce is made with garlic, olive oil, butter and salt, 3 ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen!
Easy Garlic Butter Pasta
My family loves this butter garlic pasta with broccoli made with simple rotini noodles and frozen broccoli. From start to finish, it only takes about 15 minutes to make, making it a perfect quick weeknight pasta dinner when you’re short on time (which, for me, is basically every night!). The garlic butter sauce coats the noodles perfectly, and the broccoli adds just the right touch of garden-fresh flavor without any extra fuss.
I usually serve this buttery garlic pasta alongside my Bread Machine Italian Bread for a complete, comforting meal that comes together in no time. This easy garlic butter broccoli pasta is a family favorite, perfect for busy weeknights, last-minute dinners, or anytime you want a quick pasta dish everyone will love.
Ingredients for Broccoli and Pasta
Here’s the ingredients you need to make this dish.
How to Make Garlic Butter Pasta
Cook the pasta along with frozen broccoli in the same pot.
Before draining, save 1/4 cup of the pasta water.
While pasta is cooking, melt minced garlic, olive oil , butter and salt together in a large skillet .
Add pasta and broccoli into the skillet, along with the pasta water.
Stir to fully coat the pasta and broccoli in the garlic butter sauce.
Serve with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Help! Can I use spaghetti noodles instead?
I love using rotini or fusilli since the spirals hold onto the buttery sauce so well, but feel free to use spaghetti or any pasta you have on hand.
Help! Can I use fresh broccoli instead?
Absolutely! I like to toss fresh broccoli into the pot with the pasta so they cook together—one pot, less cleanup, and just as tasty.
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Ingredients
- ▢ 1 pound rotini pasta (or fusilli)
- ▢ 16 ounce bag frozen broccoli
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ ½ cup olive oil
- ▢ 2 tablespoons butter
- ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
- ▢ Grated Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rotini and cook until pasta is al-dente, adding in frozen broccoli with 5 minutes left. Drain, saving ¼ cup of the pasta water. (Want to use fresh broccoli? Read the notes below!)
- In a large skillet over medium heat add the minced garlic, olive oil, butter and salt, mixing until garlic is lightly sauted and butter is melted.
- Add pasta and broccoli into the skillet, along with the pasta water, and stir to fully coat the pasta in the garlic butter sauce. Taste, adding more salt if needed.
- Serve on plates with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top.
Notes
Fast Butter Garlic Pasta with Broccoli
Ingredients
- 1 pound rotini pasta (or fusilli)
- 16 ounce bag frozen broccoli
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Grated Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rotini and cook until pasta is al-dente, adding in frozen broccoli with 5 minutes left. Drain, saving ¼ cup of the pasta water. (Want to use fresh broccoli? Read the notes below!)
- In a large skillet over medium heat add the minced garlic, olive oil, butter and salt, mixing until garlic is lightly sauted and butter is melted.
- Add pasta and broccoli into the skillet, along with the pasta water, and stir to fully coat the pasta in the garlic butter sauce. Taste, adding more salt if needed.
- Serve on plates with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese on top.
Notes
Recipe Created by Pamela Reed for brooklynfarmgirl.com
