How to Make the Best Rustic Garlic Butter Pasta with Roasted Broccoli

There are some nights when the thought of cooking a complicated meal feels like climbing a mountain. You’re tired, you’re hungry, and you just want something comforting and delicious—and fast. That’s exactly why I created this Rustic Garlic Butter Pasta with Roasted Broccoli recipe. It’s my secret weapon for those busy weeknights when my family wants something satisfying without a ton of fuss. This isn’t just any pasta dish; it’s a bowl of pure comfort, packed with crispy, caramelized roasted broccoli, and coated in a simple yet deeply flavorful garlic butter sauce. I promise, this recipe is as simple as it is delicious. By the time your pasta is cooked, your broccoli will be perfectly roasted, and the sauce comes together in minutes. It’s the kind of meal that will make you feel like a star chef, even on your most exhausted days.

Quick Recipe

• Preparation Time: 10M
• Cooking Time: 25M
• Total Time: 35M
• Type of Dish: Main Course
• Cuisine: Italian American
• Recipe Yield: 4 servings
• Calories: 550 per serving

Why This Recipe Is a Weeknight Lifesaver

• One-Pan Roasting: We’ll roast the broccoli and toast the garlic together on one sheet pan. This saves on cleanup and builds incredible flavor.
• Minimal Ingredients: You likely have most of these ingredients in your pantry right now—pasta, butter, garlic, and broccoli.
• Big on Flavor, Small on Effort: The combination of roasted broccoli and garlic butter creates a rustic, rich flavor that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.
• Completely Customizable: This recipe is a fantastic starting point. Feel free to add cooked chicken, cherry tomatoes, or a sprinkle of chili flakes to make it your own.

The Magic of Roasting Your Broccoli

A lot of recipes have you steam or boil broccoli, but roasting it is a total game-changer. When you toss broccoli with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper and let it roast, a wonderful thing happens. The florets get crispy edges, the stems become tender, and the natural sugars caramelize, giving the broccoli a sweet, nutty flavor that is far more delicious than anything you’d get from boiling.

For this Rustic Garlic Butter Pasta with Roasted Broccoli, we’ll roast the broccoli on the same sheet pan as our garlic. This not only makes things easier but also infuses the broccoli with a subtle garlic flavor. I often call this my “sheet-pan secret.” The trick here is to cut the broccoli into similar-sized pieces so they cook evenly. Don’t be afraid to let them get a little dark and crispy—that’s where all the deliciousness is.

Ingredients

• 1 pound (450g) of your favorite pasta (I love using linguine, fettuccine, or even a short pasta like rigatoni)
• 1 large head of broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1 head of garlic, separated into cloves (no need to peel them yet!)
• 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for the pasta
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for the pasta water
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
• Red pepper flakes (optional, for a little kick)

Essential Tools

• Large pot for cooking pasta
• Large baking sheet
• Large skillet or Dutch oven
• Tongs
• Cutting board and knife

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prep and Roast the Broccoli

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). On a large baking sheet, toss the broccoli florets with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Spread the broccoli in a single layer.
• Take your whole garlic cloves (still in their skins!) and scatter them among the broccoli. Roasting the garlic in its skin prevents it from burning and makes it incredibly soft and sweet. This is a key step that really deepens the flavor of the garlic. Pop the sheet pan into the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender and the edges are starting to brown and crisp up.

2. Cook the Pasta

• While the broccoli is roasting, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Adding salt to the pasta water is crucial—it’s your first opportunity to season the pasta itself, and it makes all the difference in the final dish. A good rule of thumb is to make the water taste like the sea.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions until it’s al dente (meaning it still has a slight bite to it). Before you drain the pasta, be sure to reserve at least 1/2 cup of that starchy pasta water. That water is gold! It’s the secret to creating a silky, emulsified sauce.

3. Make the Garlic Butter Sauce

• Once the roasted garlic is cool enough to handle, simply squeeze the cloves out of their papery skins. They should be soft, sweet, and easy to mash. In a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter with the roasted garlic. Mash the garlic into the butter with the back of a spoon to create a paste.
• At this point, you can add some red pepper flakes if you want a spicy kick. Let the garlic butter mixture gently sizzle for about a minute, until it smells incredibly fragrant.

4. Combine Everything

• Add the cooked and drained pasta directly to the skillet with the garlic butter. Toss to coat the pasta evenly. Now, pour in about 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water. The starch in the water will help the sauce cling to every strand of pasta, creating a beautiful, glossy finish.
• Add the roasted broccoli and half of the grated Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together, making sure the broccoli is well distributed. If the sauce looks a little dry, add a splash more pasta water. The goal is a light, glistening sauce, not a soupy one.

5. Serve and Enjoy

Serve the pasta immediately in warm bowls. Garnish generously with the remaining Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. The parsley adds a wonderful fresh, herby note that cuts through the richness of the butter and cheese.

Final Disclosure

This Rustic Garlic Butter Pasta with Roasted Broccoli has become one of my most-requested recipes. It’s a testament to the fact that you don’t need a pantry full of exotic ingredients or hours of time to make a meal that is truly memorable. This dish is proof that simple, honest ingredients, prepared with a little bit of care, can deliver a huge payoff in flavor. So go ahead, give it a try. You’ll be amazed at what you can create on a simple weeknight.

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