This Broccoli Lemon Pasta is a delicious one-pot meal that will be on the table in 20 minutes or less! With just a handful of basic ingredients, this simple vegan pasta recipe is the perfect dish for busy weeknights.
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Why You Will Love This Vegan Pasta Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This vegan pasta recipe takes just minutes to make with simple ingredients that are easy to find.
- One-Pot Dinner: Everything is cooked in the same pot, making cleanup a breeze!
- Light and Flavorful: Refreshing lemon combines with olive oil, garlic, and broccoli to create a light, yet satisfying pasta dish. No heavy sauces here!
For more vegan lunch ideas, check out my Vegan Black Bean Burgers, Kale Pasta, Chickpea Tuna Salad, Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad, Spiralized Cucumber Strawberry Noodle Salad, and Rice and Veggies next.
Ingredients
Here's a look at the simple ingredients you need to make this quick pasta recipe. All the ingredients along with their quantities are available in the recipe card.
- Pasta: I used rotini but feel free to use another pasta shape such as penne, bow ties, shells, or cavatappi.
- Broccoli: You can use either frozen or fresh broccoli for this recipe.
- Olive Oil: Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- Lemon Juice: For best results, use freshly squeezed lemon juice, not the kind from concentrate.
- Garlic: Use fresh, grated garlic to add the perfect amount of garlicky flavor to this broccoli pasta recipe.
- Lemon Zest: Optional but highly recommended, it adds a touch of tanginess and more intense lemon flavor to this pasta with broccoli recipe.
Variations
- Gluten-Free: Simply swap out the traditional wheat-based pasta with your favorite gluten-free version. Tip: Legume pastas like chickpea or lentil will give this meal a protein boost!
- Add a Protein: Add chickpeas, cannellini beans, sauteed tofu, or marinated tempeh to increase the amount of protein in this dish.
- Mix-ins and Toppings: Mix in some chopped roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes for even more flavor or top with toasted pine nuts or walnuts for some crunch.
- More Veggies: Mix in additional veggies such as cauliflower, carrots, mushrooms, peas, or spinach to change things up.
How to Make Broccoli Lemon Pasta
Prep: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the uncooked pasta to the boiling water along with the fresh broccoli. Tip: If you are using frozen broccoli, don’t add it until about 4 minutes before the pasta is done cooking.
Step 1: Once boiling add the pasta to the water. (if using fresh broccoli add that here too)
Step 2: About 4 minutes before the pasta is done cooking (7-11 minutes depending on how done you like your pasta) add the frozen broccoli. (if using fresh broccoli cook until pasta is done- about 11-14 minutes)
Step 3: Once the pasta and broccoli is done, drain the water and add back to the pan.
Step 4: Add the olive oil, lemon juice, grated garlic, sale, pepper right to the pot and stir. Serve and garnish with lemon zest if desired.
How to Store
This pasta dish is best enjoyed immediately. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave for best results. Freezing is not recommended.
Expert Tips
- Don’t overcook the pasta: Overcooking can lead to mushy or sticky pasta and can also cause the pasta to lose some of its flavor.
- No need to rinse the pasta: The starch in the water helps the olive oil and lemon juice mixture stick to the pasta.
- Salt your pasta water: Salting the water before boiling both seasons the pasta and helps to reduce stickiness.
- Serve for lunch or dinner: This pasta dish pairs perfectly with our Tomato Spinach Quinoa Salad. It also goes great with a side of crusty bread smeared with some vegan butter or this Easy Spinach Walnut Pesto.
Recipe FAQs
Sprinkle on some vegan parmesan cheese to add both flavor and saltiness, add some crushed red pepper flakes for a hint of heat, or garnish with some fresh herbs such as parsley or basil to enhance the flavors of your pasta dish.
Be sure to bring the water to a boil before adding the pasta to ensure the noodles cook evenly. And don’t skip the salt! Always add salt to the pasta water before boiling to enhance the flavor and prevent the noodles from sticking to each other.
More Vegan Pasta Recipes
Lemon Broccoli Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 oz. rotini pasta
- 2 cups broccoli
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 Pinch sea salt
- 1 Pinch black pepper
- Lemon zest (optional to garnish)
Instructions
- In a large pot start by boiling water for the pasta.
- Once boiling add the pasta to the water. (if using fresh broccoli add that here too)
- About 4 minutes before the pasta is done cooking (7-11 minutes depending on how done you like your pasta) add the frozen broccoli. (if using fresh broccoli cook until pasta is done- about 11-14 minutes)
- Once the pasta and broccoli is done, drain the water and add back to the pan.
- Add the olive oil, lemon juice, grated garlic, sale, pepper right to the pot and stir.
- Serve and garnish with lemon zest if desired.
- Enjoy immediately or store in a sealed container in the fridge up to 3 days.
- Re-heat in the microwave
Video
Notes
Vegetables: I used frozen broccoli but you can use fresh of frozen. If you use fresh you will need to add the broccoli that same time as the pasta because fresh will take longer to cook.
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