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One-Pot Creamy Penne with Broccoli

By Amanda Luchtel

Published on March 3, 2025

Time

50 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

One-Pot Creamy Penne with Broccoli

Ingredients

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 pound broccoli florets, cut into 1-inch pieces1¾ teaspoons table salt, divided¾ teaspoon pepper 6 garlic cloves, minced, divided4 cups water 3 cups half-and-half 1 pound penne 3 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese, grated (1½ cups)2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup)3 tablespoons lemon juice

Before You Begin

Use a rasp-style grater to grate the cheeses.

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add broccoli, ½ teaspoon salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is crisp-tender and dark brown in spots, about 8 minutes. Stir in half of garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds; transfer to bowl.
  2. Combine water, half-and-half, pasta, remaining 1¼ teaspoons salt, and remaining half of garlic in now-empty Dutch oven and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring often, until pasta is tender, 15 to 18 minutes.
  3. Off heat, stir in cheeses, lemon juice, and broccoli until combined. Cover and let sit until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir and serve.
One-Pot Creamy Penne with Broccoli
Styling by Elle Simone Scott.

One-Pot Creamy Penne with Broccoli

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Time

50 minutes

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound broccoli florets, cut into 1-inch pieces
1¾ teaspoons table salt, divided
¾ teaspoon pepper
6 garlic cloves, minced, divided
4 cups water
3 cups half-and-half
1 pound penne
3 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese, grated (1½ cups)
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup)
3 tablespoons lemon juice

Ingredients

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound broccoli florets, cut into 1-inch pieces
1¾ teaspoons table salt, divided
¾ teaspoon pepper
6 garlic cloves, minced, divided
4 cups water
3 cups half-and-half
1 pound penne
3 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese, grated (1½ cups)
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup)
3 tablespoons lemon juice

Ingredients

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound broccoli florets, cut into 1-inch pieces
1¾ teaspoons table salt, divided
¾ teaspoon pepper
6 garlic cloves, minced, divided
4 cups water
3 cups half-and-half
1 pound penne
3 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese, grated (1½ cups)
2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 cup)
3 tablespoons lemon juice

Why This Recipe Works

Prebrowning the broccoli and removing it before cooking the pasta provided a tender-firm bite and deep flavor without overcooking. Cooking the pasta with a measured amount of half-and-half and water yielded a creamy one-pot dish.

Before You Begin

Use a rasp-style grater to grate the cheeses.

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add broccoli, ½ teaspoon salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is crisp-tender and dark brown in spots, about 8 minutes. Stir in half of garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds; transfer to bowl.
  2. Combine water, half-and-half, pasta, remaining 1¼ teaspoons salt, and remaining half of garlic in now-empty Dutch oven and bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring often, until pasta is tender, 15 to 18 minutes.
  3. Off heat, stir in cheeses, lemon juice, and broccoli until combined. Cover and let sit until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir and serve.

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