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–+ servings

Creamy Vegetarian Broccoli Cheddar Pasta

A comforting dish packed with cheesy goodness and fresh vegetables, perfect for family dinners and casual gatherings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound Pasta of your choice (medium shells, rotini, cavatappi, or penne)
  • 1 large head Broccoli (about 1.5 lbs or 680g), cut into small florets
  • 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
  • 1 medium Yellow Onion (finely chopped, about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 cups Vegetable Broth
  • 1.5 cups Milk (whole milk or 2% recommended)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika (optional)
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Black Pepper (freshly ground)
  • 8 ounces Sharp Cheddar Cheese (freshly grated)
  • 4 ounces Cream Cheese (cut into cubes, optional)
  • to garnish Fresh Parsley (chopped, optional)

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your chosen pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente.
  2. About 3–4 minutes before the pasta is done cooking, add the broccoli florets to the boiling pasta water.
  3. Once your pasta is al dente and broccoli is tender-crisp, reserve about 1 cup of that starchy pasta water and drain both.
  4. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt unsalted butter. Add chopped onion and sauté for about 5–7 minutes until softened. Then add minced garlic and smoked paprika, cooking for another minute.
  5. Sprinkle flour over the sautéed onions and garlic. Whisk constantly for about 1–2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
  6. Gradually whisk in vegetable broth little by little, then whisk in milk gradually as well.
  7. Bring your sauce to a gentle simmer while stirring frequently for about 3–5 minutes until it thickens.
  8. Stir in Dijon mustard and season with salt and pepper as desired.
  9. Reduce heat to low and add grated cheddar cheese gradually, stirring until melted. If using cream cheese, stir it in until smooth.
  10. Add cooked pasta and broccoli into your cheese sauce and stir until evenly coated. Adjust with reserved pasta water if too thick.
  11. Serve immediately with fresh chopped parsley and a sprinkle of black pepper.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 8gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 200mgFiber: 2gSugar: 15g

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