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    Home » Vegetarian Recipes

    Roasted Garlic and Broccoli Pasta

    Lindsay Moe

    334 shares
    pinterest image for garlic and broccoli pasta

    Garlic and broccoli penne gets major flavor from roasting both the garlic and the broccoli in the oven before tossing with olive oil and pasta. This easy vegetarian pasta recipe is mostly hands off, making it a great choice for a busy weeknight dinner!

    a pan of roasted garlic and broccoli penne with a napkin
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    Garlic. And broccoli. And penne. It’s easy weeknight dinner time!

    I have very little skill when it comes to 30 minute dinners. But. Dinner where you can let something cook for 30+ minutes without touching it? That I can do.

    close up photo of broccoli penne in a pan

    This vegetarian pasta recipe uses roasted garlic, which is one of my favorite things on planet earth because it takes an entire head of garlic and turns it into something that I could probably eat in one sitting. It’s so freaking flavorful!

    Garlic takes on a sweet, mellow flavor when fully roasted so this amount is just right for me. If it seems like too much for you, however, cut it back by as much as you’d like.

    a head of roasted garlic

    We’re pairing it with my oven roasted broccoli because, as we’ve established, that is also one heck of a good way to eat something. Add all that to quick cooking penne and you won’t believe what you made with like 15 minutes of hands on work in the game.

    Part of what makes this so easy is that it gives you plenty of room to improvise or make substitutions. Use whatever amount of broccoli you have on hand or swap in sweet potato, sautéed spinach, or caramelized onions.

    How to make garlic and broccoli penne

    • Roast garlic
    • Roast broccoli
    • Cook penne, reserving a cup of cooking liquid
    • Heat olive oil, then mash in garlic and broccoli
    • Add the pasta along with Parmesan cheese and pasta water. Toss to coat!

    As always, you can find a vegetarian parmesan cheese if you’d like (because not all parmesan is vegetarian) or leave it off.

    broccoli pasta in a speckled bowl

    This garlic and broccoli penne recipe can be customized! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

    • Swap the roasted garlic for 2 cloves of fresh garlic, minced and cooked in the oil for 30 seconds before adding the broccoli
    • Leave off the cheese or top with vegan parmesan to make this a vegan pasta dish
    • Use gluten free noodles to make it gluten free
    • Swap the roasted broccoli for an equal amount of any other roasted vegetable such as squash, zucchini, or tomatoes

    More vegetarian pasta recipes

    • Orecchiette with Spinach and Butter Beans
    • Olive Oil Alfredo Sauce
    • Fettuccine Alfredo with Cajun Tofu
    • Roasted Garlic and Tomato Penne
    • Pesto Linguine with Crispy Balsamic Chickpeas
    broccoli pasta in a bowl with a napkin

    If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

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    broccoli pasta in a pan

    Roasted Garlic and Broccoli Pasta

    Roasted garlic and broccoli add deep and easy flavor to penne pasta.
    3.67 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 238kcal
    Author: Lindsay Moe

    Ingredients

    • 1 head garlic
    • 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for roasting
    • 1 large or 2 small heads broccoli, cut into small florets
    • Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 pound penne pasta
    • ¼ – ½ cup Parmesan cheese
    • Crushed red pepper flakes, optional

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
    • Cut the top off the head of garlic, exposing the cloves, and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap the garlic tightly in a piece of aluminum foil and place in the oven until the cloves are dark and very soft, about 45 minutes. Allow the garlic to cool enough so you are able to handle it, then squeeze the pulp out of the skin or remove it gently with a butter knife.
    • Meanwhile, rub broccoli with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast in the oven until beginning to brown and crisp, 15-20 minutes, tossing once if desired.
    • While the vegetables are cooking bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions. Just before it is done cooking, reserve ½ a cup of the cooking water. Drain the pasta but do not rinse.
    • In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the roasted garlic to the pan and mash into a paste with the back of a spoon or fork.
    • Add the roasted broccoli and continue to mash a bit, adding a splash or two of pasta water to make a sauce. When all the ingredients are hot and slightly mashed add the pasta and ¼ cup of Parmesan and toss to coat. You can add another tablespoon of olive oil or a bit more pasta water if you want it a little saucier. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve pasta with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 6g | Sodium: 68mg | Potassium: 697mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1265IU | Vitamin C: 182.7mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 2.6mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theliveinkitchen or tag #theliveinkitchen!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amy | Club Narwhal says

      April 03, 2014 at 8:05 am

      Lindsay, it was 60 degrees on the nose yesterday and it was perfect (especially since we had been hovering in the 20-30s for WEEKS before that. I love long, slow cooked meals in the oven on cold nights, too 🙂 This pasta looks fabulous!

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        April 07, 2014 at 1:01 pm

        Thanks Amy! I’m glad things are warming up around you!

        Reply
    2. cheri says

      April 03, 2014 at 10:12 am

      Love the flavor of roasted garlic, what a great combination of flavors.

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        April 07, 2014 at 1:02 pm

        Yes, the garlic and broccoli go great together. I think I could put roasted garlic on just about anything and it would be fabulous!

        Reply
    3. cheri says

      April 03, 2014 at 10:12 am

      Love the flavor of roasted broccoli, what a great combination of flavors.

      Reply
    4. Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says

      April 03, 2014 at 11:20 am

      If there is anything I will miss about winter, it’s the warm cozy meals. But it looks like winter might be sticking around a bit longer this weekend (ugh, snow) so it’s a perfect excuse to make this yummy pasta!

      Reply
      • liz | carpé season says

        April 03, 2014 at 7:53 pm

        Too unfortunately true, Stephanie. As long as it snows, we will roast vegetables. I’m saving this recipe for next fall…Elsa’s stomach has made it very clear that it does not prefer broccoli…so of course, that’s all I’ve been craving 🙂

        Reply
        • Lindsay Moe says

          April 07, 2014 at 1:04 pm

          So sad! You’re a good mama for cutting it out for her sake.

          Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        April 07, 2014 at 1:03 pm

        I might be guilty of still making cozy meals in the heat of summer just because I love them so much. Did the snow up there melt right away or is it sticking around?

        Reply
    5. Rachel says

      April 03, 2014 at 12:39 pm

      I love the idea of adding pine nuts! Delish and can’t wait to test this.

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        April 07, 2014 at 1:03 pm

        I’ve been putting pine nuts in all my pastas lately! It’s such a tasty way to add a little protein.

        Reply
    6. Alex says

      April 05, 2014 at 3:22 pm

      Using veggies in pasta is so amazing!

      Reply
    7. Laura (Blogging Over Thyme) says

      April 06, 2014 at 11:08 am

      It was so great to meet you this weekend Lindsay! (And thrilled we could force pad thai on you for the first time, haha!) Hope you have a safe trip back to Wisconsin–and get to explore KC a bit more today.

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        April 07, 2014 at 1:09 pm

        It was great meeting you as well! I welcome people to force good food on me as often as possible! And it was great. I was able to discover some great spots in KC on Sunday morning, hopefully you did as well and made it back to DC ok!

        Reply
    8. Ginny says

      April 06, 2014 at 5:26 pm

      This looks delicious and I’m with you on getting in a meal like hits before it’s sale season. It was great meeting you last night and I’m excited to see some more great recipes like this from you 🙂

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        April 07, 2014 at 1:13 pm

        Thanks Ginny! It was great meeting you as well. I’m glad we squeezed it in at the last minute!

        Reply
    9. two birds says

      April 08, 2014 at 7:48 pm

      Yum, this sounds so delicious. Roasted broccoli is one of my favorite things…even in the heat of the summer!

      Reply
    10. cynthia says

      September 27, 2019 at 6:27 am

      hi Lindsay I love your recipes but I sometimes find it hard to read the instructions as sometimes the picture of the meal is too big and recipe runs into it hard to read don’t get me wrong loving your recipes ..cheers

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        September 27, 2019 at 8:26 am

        Thank you so much for this feedback. I’m curious which image exactly runs into the recipe, or is the page jumping around as the images load? If you’re having trouble I’d recommend clicking on the “print” button. Even if you don’t want to print it, it will take you to an easy to read page that is just the recipe without the clutter. Hope this helps!

        Reply
    11. Annie says

      February 24, 2022 at 4:38 am

      Hi Lindsay, I’ve never roasted garlic. Is the top discarded or replaced after the olive oil drizzle?
      Can it be roasted along with the broccoli and does it need to be wrapped in foil. Also how long will it keep, I’m thinking a batch roast would be energy efficient? I live in UK and love your recipes x

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        February 24, 2022 at 10:18 am

        You can discard the top, be sure to cut off just enough to expose all the cloves. I do recommend wrapping it in foil or parchment or it can dry out. It will also cook for much longer than the broccoli, but it’s ok if they’re in the oven at the same time. A batch roast is a great idea, just remove the garlic from the skins after roasting and place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for 1 month. I love roasted garlic spread on crusty bread!

        Reply
    12. Ann Roberts says

      February 28, 2022 at 3:31 am

      Thanks Lindsay, the crusty bread idea sounds great x

      Reply

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    lindsay moe in a kitchen with glasses on shelves behind her

    Hi, I'm Lindsay! I've been creating easily customizable vegetarian recipes since 2011. I love the outdoors, brownies, and brand new books. I live and work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded Wild Flour Media to expand on my love for food photography and videography to my community and beyond.

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    334 shares