Easy Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Easy Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli is a quick and comforting dinner solution. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the creamy sauce that coats every strand of pasta. The bright, fresh lemon flavor and tender broccoli florets make this dish irresistible. Try it with my Creamy Swirl Ice Cream Bread Treat for dessert. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Creamy Swirl Ice Cream Bread Treat and Summer Corn and Zucchini Chowder.
Why This Easy Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli Is Pure Comfort
- Quick and easy to make
- Creamy, lemony sauce coats every strand of pasta
- Tender broccoli florets add color and nutrition
- Better than takeout and perfect for busy weeknights
What You'll Need for Easy Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Mafaldine pasta
- Broccoli florets
- Lemon
- Garlic
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Lemon zest
- Lemon juice
- Garlic
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
- Optional: Fresh parsley
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- Mafaldine pasta: Can be substituted with fettuccine or linguine
- Broccoli florets: Fresh or frozen both work well
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- High-quality pasta pot — Even cooking and easy draining → See on Amazon
- Microplane zester — Effortless lemon zesting → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
- Cook pasta: Boil salted water and cook mafaldine pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sauté garlic: In a large skillet, sauté minced garlic in olive oil over medium heat until fragrant.
- Add broccoli: Add broccoli florets to the skillet, cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add lemon zest and juice: Stir in lemon zest and juice, followed by heavy cream. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Toss with pasta: Add cooked pasta to the skillet, toss to combine. Add reserved pasta water as needed to achieve desired creaminess.
- Finish with cheese: Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the broccoli to prevent it from becoming mushy. Cook until tender-crisp.
- Pro tip: Reserve pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency and add flavor.
- Pro tip: Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
Storing & Reheating Easy Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Pasta can be cooked and broccoli sautéed ahead of time. Combine and finish with sauce just before serving.
Freezing Easy Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Not recommended for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Use a microplane zester for easy lemon zesting.
- Best substitution: Substitute broccoli with asparagus or green beans.
- Make-ahead: Cook pasta and sauté broccoli ahead of time. Combine and finish with sauce just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water or milk to reach desired consistency.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality chef's knife — Effortless garlic mincing and broccoli chopping → Check price on Amazon
Easy Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Mafaldine pasta
- Broccoli florets
- Lemon
- Garlic
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
Seasonings
- Lemon zest
- Lemon juice
- Garlic
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Red pepper flakes
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil salted water and cook mafaldine pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sauté garlic: In a large skillet, sauté minced garlic in olive oil over medium heat until fragrant.
- Add broccoli: Add broccoli florets to the skillet, cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add lemon zest and juice: Stir in lemon zest and juice, followed by heavy cream. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Toss with pasta: Add cooked pasta to the skillet, toss to combine. Add reserved pasta water as needed to achieve desired creaminess.
- Finish with cheese: Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- Chef tip: Use a microplane zester for easy lemon zesting.
- Best substitution: Substitute broccoli with asparagus or green beans.
- Make-ahead: Cook pasta and sauté broccoli ahead of time. Combine and finish with sauce just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water or milk to reach desired consistency.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: Pasta can be cooked and broccoli sautéed ahead of time. Combine and finish with sauce just before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 550
- Protein: 20g
- Fat: 25g
- Carbs: 60g
- Fiber: 5g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sat. Fat: 15g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli FAQs
Yes, cook pasta and sauté broccoli ahead of time. Combine and finish with sauce just before serving.
Overcooking can cause broccoli to become mushy. Cook until tender-crisp.
Yes, frozen broccoli works well in this recipe. Thaw and drain before using.
Yes, use gluten-free mafaldine pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
Try serving with a side of my Summer Corn and Zucchini Chowder or Breakfast Protein Biscuits.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
