Lemon Garlic Broccoli Pasta is a delicious combination of vegetable and rotini noodles, tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh garlic. It’s deceivingly simple, low cost, and straightforward for a recipe that tastes like something you’d enjoy at a restaurant! {GF + Vegan}
I LOVE pasta. Like, really, really, really LOVE pasta. I also LOVE broccoli. Like, really, really…you get the idea. And don’t even get me started on lemon and garlic getting together for amazing flavor. Okay, actually, let’s talk about that. Because when you pair pasta and broccoli together and then add lemon and garlic, it just feels like you’re dining on a fancy dish that CLEARLY TOOK DILIGENT HOURS TO CONCEPTUALIZE. Except that it takes about 25 minutes to throw together (including time for the water to boil), and it’s basically a handful of ingredients.
Even the girls like this recipe. They’ll actually eat the broccoli on their plate. Thank you, lemon + garlic. Your check’s in the mail.
Spiriteds, this is how we win dinner. How we take our recipes up a notch without having to sweat it. And it’s proof that delicious doesn’t have to equal complicated/expensive/hoity-toity.
We can have our rotini + broccoli + lemon + garlic and eat them, too!
Lemon Garlic Broccoli Pasta is
- Gluten-free
- Vegan
- Quick and easy to make
Lemon Garlic Broccoli Pasta ingredients
- Broccoli. The refresher, the better. Steamed to a dark green and a texture that isn’t mushy but is easily pierced with a fork.
- Gluten-free rotini noodles. Prepared according to package instructions. No need for anything super-fancy in this recipe.
- Olive oil. Nothing fancy needed. Just enough to coat the pasta and broccoli.
- Lemon juice. Fresh or bottled with work in this recipe.
- Garlic. Fresh is the absolute best here. Sea salt. Seems obvious, but, man, does it go well with the pasta and the garlic.
How to streamline the prep and cook processes
This isn’t a tricky recipe to make, but timing is everything. Depending on the pasta’s cook instructions, it can feel like the rotini noodles cook at one pace while the broccoli steams at another pace, so that, inevitably, one main ingredient is ready well before the other. Let’s avoid that if we can, shall we?
- First things first: check the cook instructions on the pasta box. Some brands need only seven to nine minutes of cook time, while others can take as long as 12-14 minutes.
- If the pasta needs less than 10 minutes to cook, then give the broccoli a head start.
- If the pasta needs more than 10 minutes to cook, then start the water for both the broccoli and the pasta at the same time.
- The length of time needed to steam broccoli can vary depending on the size of the pot and the size of the florets. A deeper pot will likely hold more broccoli but take longer to warm up (10 minutes, give or take), whereas a shallower pot might hold fewer broccoli florets but take less time to warm up. Once the water is boiling, then add the broccoli, and plan for about 8-12 minutes of steam time. The broccoli is done when it has turned dark green and you can easily pierce it with a fork.
Easy pasta dishes for dinner!
If you’re in the mood for more pasta inspiration, then check these recipes out!
- Gluten-Free Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
- Shrimp and Sausage Pasta
- Gluten-Free Italian Pasta Salad
- Gluten-Free Lemon Garlic Pasta
Take care, Spiriteds, and stay wild! I’m glad you’re here! ❤️
Lemon Garlic Broccoli Pasta {Gluten-Free}
Lemon Garlic Broccoli Pasta is a delicious combination of vegetable and rotini noodles, tossed with olive oil, lemon juice, fresh garlic. It’s deceivingly simple, low cost, and straightforward for a recipe that tastes like something you’d enjoy at a restaurant! {GF + Vegan}
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 7 cups 1x
- Category: Main Dishes
- Method: Stovetop
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1 head broccoli, chopped into small florets
- 4 cups gluten-free rotini noodles
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1–2 cloves garlic, pressed
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- Cracked black pepper and lemon wedges for garnishing
Instructions
- Fill two saucepans with water (one with a steamer for the broccoli) and bring to a boil. Add broccoli to the steamer and the pasta to the other saucepan. Cover and cook for seven minutes.
- In a separate large mixing or serving bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and sea salt. Stir in pasta, ensuring noodles are evenly coated with the olive oil mixture, and then briskly stir in the broccoli florets. Top with pepper and lemon wedges.
- For best results, serve immediately.
Notes
- Your actual cook times will vary, depending on the brand and/or type of gluten-free pasta you use.
- Garlic variation: Instead of pressed garlic, slice several cloves of garlic into slivers. Add them to a small skillet, along with a few pinches of sea salt and enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the skillet. Sauté the garlic slivers until they turn an amber color but are not burned. Once the pasta and broccoli are done, transfer them to serving dishes and top with the sautéed garlic pieces.
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