One Pot Lemon Broccoli Pasta

This lemon broccoli pasta recipe pops with bursts of citrus notes from the lemon juice and zest, tamed by the garlic, red chili pepper, and olive oil. The basil adds a punch of herby flavor to the mix, making this recipe a hit at the campsite.

I love making this lemon broccoli pasta dish while camping. The one-pot factor means less to clean up afterward, and it comes together in the amount of time that it takes to make regular pasta.

This is one of my go-to meals when we’ve spent a long day out hiking or cycling or when I am feeling lazy at home. It comes together in just 20 minutes, which includes the water boil time, and we just can’t get enough!

Ingredients

• Pasta: Most types will work (though in testing we found gluten-free rice pasta falls apart too easily, resulting in an unappetizing texture).
• Broccoli: A small head of broccoli, which can be chopped up into bite-sized pieces ahead of time.
• Lemon: We’ll use the juice and zest of one lemon. If you don’t have a zester or microplane, the smallest holes on a box grater work, too. Or, use a paring knife to remove the yellow part of the peel (avoid the bitter white part) and then finely mince.
• Basil: Fresh really is best in this recipe if you can swing it!
• Vegan parmesan (optional): Store-bought, homemade, or you can substitute with some nutritional yeast.

Step by step

Bring a pot of water to a boil. While you’re waiting for the water to come to a boil, measure out your olive oil, mince the garlic, and chiffonade the basil.

Once the water reaches a boil, salt the water and add the pasta. Subtract 4 minutes from the pasta cooking time (see your pasta’s packaging for the time). When this timer goes off, that is when you will add the broccoli to the pot.

When the broccoli and pasta finish, turn the heat to low and drain the water. It’s OK if there is a little bit of pasta water remaining, but try to keep no more than ¼ cup.

Return the pot to the heat and add the olive oil, garlic, and red chili flakes and stir for about one minute, until the garlic is fragrant.

Add the lemon zest, juice, and basil and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste and top with vegan parmesan.

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Fresh Off The Grid

One Pot Lemon Broccoli Pasta

5 from 4 ratings

This lemon broccoli pasta recipe pops with bursts of citrus notes from the lemon juice and zest, tamed by the garlic, red chili pepper, and olive oil. The basil adds a punch of herby flavor to the mix, making this recipe a hit at the campsite.

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Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients Instructions Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• ½ lb penne pasta can be whole wheat, gluten-free, or any other kind you like
• 1 small head of broccoli cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
• Zest of one lemon
• ⅓ cup lemon juice from one lemon
• ¼ cup basil chiffonade
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Vegan parmesan optional, see note

Instructions

 

1. Bring water to a boil.
2. While you’re waiting for the water to come to a boil, measure out your olive oil, mince the garlic, and chiffonade the basil.
3. Once the water reaches a boil, salt the water and add the pasta.
   1/2 lb penne pasta
4. Subtract 4 minutes from the pasta cooking time (see your pasta's packaging for the time). When this timer goes off, that is when you will add the broccoli to the pot.
   1 small head of broccoli
5. When the broccoli and pasta finish, turn the heat to low and drain the water.
6. Return the pot to the heat and add the olive oil, garlic, and red chili flakes and stir for about one minute, until the garlic is fragrant.
   2 cloves garlic, ¼ cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
7. Add the lemon zest, juice, and basil and stir to combine.
   Zest of one lemon, ⅓ cup lemon juice, ¼ cup basil
8. Add salt and pepper to taste and top with vegan parmesan.
   Salt and pepper to taste, Vegan parmesan

Notes

Ingredient Notes

There are a few vegan parmesan cheeses on the market, or you can make your own (try this recipe from Minimalist Baker). In a pinch, you can just use nutritional yeast.

Show Nutrition Hide

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 643kcal

Nutrition is an estimate based on information provided by a third-party nutrition calculator

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