Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli is the ultimate quick and comforting dinner. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the creamy, tangy sauce that coats every strand of pasta. The crisp-tender broccoli adds a fresh, satisfying crunch. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Creamy Baked Macaroni and Cheese and Garlic Parmesan Roasted Zucchini – Crispy Healthy Side in 25 Mins.
Why This Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli Is Pure Comfort
- Quick and easy to make in just 20 minutes
- Creamy, tangy lemon sauce coats every strand of pasta
- Crisp-tender broccoli adds a fresh, satisfying crunch
- Better than takeout and perfect for busy weeknights
What You'll Need for 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
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic
- Lemon zest and juice
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Lemon wedges
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Mafaldine pasta: Can be substituted with fettuccine or linguine.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Heavy-bottomed skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect cooking. → See on Amazon
- Microplane zester — Captures maximum lemon zest for intense flavor. → See on Amazon
How to Make Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook mafaldine pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sauté garlic: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Cook broccoli: Add broccoli florets to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook until tender-crisp, about 3-4 minutes.
- Make lemon sauce: Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and heavy cream. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. If needed, add some reserved pasta water to adjust consistency.
- Toss pasta: Add drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat in the sauce. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve: Divide pasta among plates, garnish with optional toppings, and serve immediately.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
- Common mistake and fix: Avoid overcooking the broccoli to maintain its crisp-tender texture. If it becomes mushy, start with fresher broccoli and reduce cooking time.
- Time-saving tip: Prepare ingredients ahead of time and have them ready to go for a quick, stress-free cooking experience.
- Flavor boost: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle heat that complements the creamy sauce.
- Make-ahead tip: This dish is best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a little pasta water to restore creaminess.
Storing & Reheating Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare ingredients ahead of time for a quick, stress-free cooking experience.
Freezing Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Not recommended for freezing.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a little pasta water to restore creaminess. Microwave: Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a little pasta water to restore creaminess.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Use high-quality Parmesan cheese for the best flavor.
- Best substitution: Substitute heavy cream with full-fat canned coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare ingredients ahead of time for a quick, stress-free cooking experience.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve more people.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce becomes too thick, add some reserved pasta water to adjust consistency.
Want to level up this recipe?
Microplane zester — Captures maximum lemon zest for intense flavor. → Check price on Amazon
Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Mafaldine pasta
- Broccoli florets
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
Seasonings
- Garlic
- Lemon zest and juice
- Heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Red pepper flakes
- Fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook mafaldine pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sauté garlic: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Cook broccoli: Add broccoli florets to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook until tender-crisp, about 3-4 minutes.
- Make lemon sauce: Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and heavy cream. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly. If needed, add some reserved pasta water to adjust consistency.
- Toss pasta: Add drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat in the sauce. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Serve: Divide pasta among plates, garnish with optional toppings, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Chef tip: Use high-quality Parmesan cheese for the best flavor.
- Best substitution: Substitute heavy cream with full-fat canned coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare ingredients ahead of time for a quick, stress-free cooking experience.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve more people.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce becomes too thick, add some reserved pasta water to adjust consistency.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Not recommended for freezing.
- Oven reheat: Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a little pasta water to restore creaminess.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a little pasta water to restore creaminess.
- Make ahead: Prepare ingredients ahead of time for a quick, stress-free cooking experience.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 16g
- Fat: 20g
- Carbs: 55g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Cholesterol: 50mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Creamy Mafaldine Pasta Limone with Broccoli FAQs
It's best to enjoy this dish fresh, but leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a little pasta water to restore creaminess.
Ensure you reserve enough pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if needed. The starchy water helps create a creamy, coating sauce.
While you can, fresh broccoli will have the best texture and flavor. If using frozen, thaw and pat dry before cooking to avoid watery sauce.
This recipe is best cooked on the stovetop. The air fryer is not well-suited for cooking pasta or making creamy sauces.
Full-fat canned coconut milk is a suitable dairy-free substitute for heavy cream.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try 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!
