Best Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli is the ultimate cozy, better-than-takeout dinner. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to the perfect creamy sauce. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Peach Cobbler French Toast Bake and Rhubarb Bars with Cream Cheese.
Why This Best Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli Is Pure Comfort
- Creamy, tangy sauce that coats every strand of pasta
- Tender broccoli with a slight crunch
- Easy, one-pot recipe ready in 20 minutes
What You'll Need for Best Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- mafaldine pasta
- broccoli florets
- garlic
- lemon
- heavy cream
- salt
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes
- parmesan cheese
- Optional: fresh parsley
- Optional: lemon zest
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- mafaldine pasta: Can be substituted with linguine or fettuccine
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stainless Steel Pasta Pot — Even cooking and easy draining → See on Amazon
- Microplane Zester — Effortless lemon zesting → See on Amazon
How to Make Best Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
- Cook pasta: Boil mafaldine pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- Cook broccoli: Add broccoli to the pasta pot, cook for 2 minutes. Drain.
- Make sauce: In the same pot, sauté garlic, add heavy cream, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Simmer.
- Toss pasta: Add cooked pasta and broccoli to the sauce. Toss, add pasta water if needed. Finish with parmesan and red pepper flakes.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Best Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the broccoli. It should still have a slight crunch. If it's too soft, reduce cooking time.
- Pro tip: Use the reserved pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if needed. It adds starch and flavor.
- Pro tip: For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes. Start with a small amount and adjust to taste.
Storing & Reheating Best Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated. Cook pasta and broccoli fresh.
Freezing Best Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Not recommended for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Use high-quality lemon juice for the best flavor.
- Best substitution: Substitute heavy cream with full-fat canned coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
- Make-ahead: Cook pasta and broccoli fresh. Make the sauce ahead of time and reheat.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water. If it's too thin, simmer for a few more minutes.
Want to level up this recipe?
Stainless Steel Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect sauce → Check price on Amazon
Best Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- mafaldine pasta
- broccoli florets
- garlic
- lemon
- heavy cream
Seasonings
- salt
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes
- parmesan cheese
Optional Toppings
- fresh parsley
- lemon zest
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil mafaldine pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- Cook broccoli: Add broccoli to the pasta pot, cook for 2 minutes. Drain.
- Make sauce: In the same pot, sauté garlic, add heavy cream, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Simmer.
- Toss pasta: Add cooked pasta and broccoli to the sauce. Toss, add pasta water if needed. Finish with parmesan and red pepper flakes.
Notes
- Chef tip: Use high-quality lemon juice for the best flavor.
- Best substitution: Substitute heavy cream with full-fat canned coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
- Make-ahead: Cook pasta and broccoli fresh. Make the sauce ahead of time and reheat.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water. If it's too thin, simmer for a few more minutes.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Make ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated. Cook pasta and broccoli fresh.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 620
- Protein: 20g
- Fat: 35g
- Carbs: 65g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Cholesterol: 105mg
- Sat. Fat: 21g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Best Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli FAQs
Cook pasta and broccoli fresh. Make the sauce ahead of time and reheat.
You may have overcooked the pasta or not added enough pasta water to the sauce. Adjust cooking time and add more pasta water.
This recipe is not suitable for the air fryer. It's best cooked on the stovetop.
Full-fat canned coconut milk is a good dairy-free substitute.
Freezing is not recommended as the pasta and broccoli may become mushy upon thawing.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Best Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
