Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli is an irresistible, comforting dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the secret to a perfectly creamy sauce every time. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Try this with our Honey BBQ Chicken and Rice and Pair this with our Baked Potato Soup.
Why This Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli Is Pure Comfort
- Creamy, tangy sauce that coats every strand of pasta
- Tender broccoli florets that retain their crunch
- Easy, one-pot preparation that's ready in 20 minutes
- Better than takeout, and healthier too!
What You'll Need for 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
- Garlic cloves
- Lemon
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic
- Lemon zest
- Lemon juice
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Lemon wedges
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- Mafaldine pasta: Can be substituted with fettuccine or linguine
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- High-quality pasta pot — Ensures even cooking and prevents sticking. → See on Amazon
- Microplane zester — Makes it easy to zest lemons and grate garlic. → See on Amazon
How to Make Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
- Cook pasta: Boil water, add pasta, cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- Sauté garlic: In a large skillet, sauté minced garlic in olive oil until fragrant.
- Add broccoli: Add broccoli florets to the skillet, cook until tender-crisp.
- Create sauce: Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, heavy cream, and reserved pasta water. Simmer until sauce thickens.
- Toss pasta: Add cooked pasta to the skillet, toss to coat in sauce. Add more pasta water if needed.
- Finish and serve: Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Serve hot, garnished with optional toppings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the broccoli. It should still have a slight crunch. If it's too soft, it will turn the sauce green.
- Pro tip: Use the reserved pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency. It adds extra starch and flavor.
- Pro tip: For a vegan version, substitute heavy cream with canned coconut milk and omit Parmesan cheese.
Storing & Reheating 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: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated before adding the pasta.
Freezing 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.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Best substitution: If you don't have heavy cream, you can use an equal amount of Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Make-ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated before adding the pasta.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little more pasta water or milk.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality chef's knife — Makes prep work faster and easier, ensuring even cooking. → Check price on Amazon
Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Mafaldine pasta
- Broccoli florets
- Garlic cloves
- Lemon
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
Seasonings
- Garlic
- Lemon zest
- Lemon juice
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Red pepper flakes
- Fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil water, add pasta, cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- Sauté garlic: In a large skillet, sauté minced garlic in olive oil until fragrant.
- Add broccoli: Add broccoli florets to the skillet, cook until tender-crisp.
- Create sauce: Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, heavy cream, and reserved pasta water. Simmer until sauce thickens.
- Toss pasta: Add cooked pasta to the skillet, toss to coat in sauce. Add more pasta water if needed.
- Finish and serve: Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Serve hot, garnished with optional toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Best substitution: If you don't have heavy cream, you can use an equal amount of Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Make-ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated before adding the pasta.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little more pasta water or milk.
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.
- Make ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated before adding the pasta.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 550
- Protein: 20g
- Fat: 25g
- Carbs: 65g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sat. Fat: 15g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli FAQs
Yes, you can make the sauce ahead of time and reheat it before adding the pasta.
Overcooking the broccoli causes it to release chlorophyll, turning the sauce green. Avoid overcooking the broccoli to prevent this.
This recipe is best made on the stovetop, but you can air fry the broccoli separately for a few minutes before adding it to the sauce.
You can use an equal amount of Greek yogurt, sour cream, or canned coconut milk as a substitute for heavy cream.
Yes, this recipe is gluten-free as long as you use gluten-free pasta.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try 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!
