Quick Skillet Ricotta Pasta with Roasted Broccoli Recipe to Savor

Skillet ricotta pasta emerges as a culinary marvel that reimagines ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary dining experience.

Creamy textures dance with robust flavors, creating a harmonious symphony on your plate.

This uncomplicated dish combines pantry staples with minimal kitchen effort, promising maximum satisfaction.

broccoli verdant charm roasts to caramelized perfection, adding depth and nutritional complexity to the meal.

Comfort meets sophistication in a single pan, blending rustic techniques with contemporary cooking sensibilities.

Home cooks appreciate how quickly this recipe comes together, delivering restaurant-quality results without extensive preparation.

Impressive yet approachable, this pasta promises to become a weeknight favorite that delights and nourishes.

Skillet Ricotta Pasta with Roasted Broccoli: Weeknight Winner

• Create Creamy Comfort: This pasta dish delivers an irresistibly smooth, velvety ricotta sauce that hugs every pasta strand, transforming simple ingredients into a luxurious meal.
• Quick Weeknight Wonder: Requiring just 30 minutes from start to finish, this recipe offers a satisfying dinner solution for busy home cooks seeking delicious yet effortless meals.
• Flavor Boost with Roasted Broccoli: Oven-roasting broccoli intensifies its natural sweetness and adds a delightful caramelized crunch, elevating the entire dish with minimal extra effort.
• Customizable Culinary Canvas: The recipe easily adapts to personal preferences by adjusting spice levels, cheese toppings, or even swapping pasta types for endless delicious variations.

Ingredients for Ricotta and Broccoli Pasta

Main Ingredients:

• Pasta: Holds the dish together, choose a short shape like penne or fusilli for best sauce coating.
• Broccoli Florets: Fresh, crisp broccoli provides a hearty roasted vegetable element with nutty caramelized flavor.

• Ricotta Cheese: Creamy base for the sauce, look for smooth and fresh quality.
• Parmesan Cheese: Sharp, salty cheese for finishing, adds depth and complexity to the dish.

• Olive Oil: High-quality oil for roasting and creating smooth sauce base.
• Garlic: Fresh minced garlic provides aromatic depth and classic Italian flavor profile.
• Lemon Juice: Bright citrus element that cuts through the richness of cheese.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings for balancing and enhancing overall taste.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Optional spicy garnish for those who enjoy heat.

Quick Cooking Steps for Skillet Pasta

Step 1: Prepare Roasted Broccoli

• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

Roast for 20 minutes until golden and slightly charred.

Step 2: Cook Pasta

Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Save 1/2 to 3/4 cup pasta water before draining.

Step 3: Sauté Garlic

Heat remaining olive oil in nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step 4: Create Creamy Ricotta Sauce

Lower heat and mix in ricotta cheese. Stir until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 5: Enhance Sauce Texture

Add lemon juice and reserved pasta water. Stir until sauce becomes silky. Adjust consistency by adding more pasta water if needed.

Step 6: Combine Pasta and Sauce

Add cooked pasta to skillet. Toss thoroughly to coat with ricotta sauce.

Step 7: Add Roasted Broccoli

Gently fold roasted broccoli into pasta mixture.

Step 8: Serve and Garnish

• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Parmesan cheese (optional)

Enjoy your delicious skillet ricotta pasta!

Tips to Keep Pasta Creamy and Flavorful

• Roast Broccoli Perfectly: Spread florets in a single layer on the baking sheet to ensure even caramelization and prevent steaming, which creates a more intense, nutty flavor.
• Control Pasta Water Magic: Reserve pasta water before draining, as the starchy liquid helps create a silky, smooth sauce that clings beautifully to the pasta.
• Gentle Ricotta Technique: Heat ricotta on low temperature to prevent curdling, stirring consistently until it transforms into a creamy, luxurious sauce.
• Lemon Brightness Hack: Add fresh lemon juice gradually, tasting as you go to balance the ricotta's richness without overpowering the delicate flavors.
• Customize Your Comfort: Experiment with different herbs like basil or thyme, or add protein like grilled chicken or crispy pancetta for extra depth and satisfaction.

Store and Reheat This Pasta with No Fuss

• Refrigerate: Store leftover pasta in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3-4 days to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Reheat Stovetop: Warm pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of pasta water or olive oil to restore creamy texture. Stir gently to prevent sticking and ensure even heating.
• Microwave Option: Place pasta in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly and prevent drying out.

What Goes Great with Ricotta Broccoli Pasta

• Elevate Wine Pairing: Crisp white wines like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio perfectly complement the creamy ricotta and bright lemon notes, cutting through the richness with their refreshing acidity.
• Craft Beer Companion: Light wheat beers or crisp pilsners offer a clean, hoppy contrast to the pasta's creamy texture, enhancing the roasted broccoli's subtle char and garlic undertones.
• Fresh Salad Sidekick: Prepare a zesty arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette and shaved Parmesan to mirror the pasta's flavors, adding a peppery crunch that balances the dish's creamy richness.
• Herbal Drink Accent: Serve a fresh basil lemonade or mint-infused sparkling water to brighten the meal, providing a cool, herbaceous refresh that complements the roasted broccoli and lemony pasta sauce.

Pasta Variations to Keep It Fresh

• Spinach Swirl: Replace roasted broccoli with wilted spinach, adding fresh garlic and a pinch of nutmeg for an earthy, green-packed version.
• Mediterranean Mix: Incorporate sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese to transform the pasta into a Mediterranean-inspired dish.
• Protein Power: Include grilled chicken or crispy pancetta for added protein, creating a heartier meal that satisfies hunger more intensely.
• Herb Garden Edition: Enhance the ricotta sauce with fresh basil, chives, and parsley, giving the pasta a bright, aromatic profile that elevates the entire dish.

Skillet Ricotta Pasta with Roasted Broccoli Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Skillet ricotta pasta with roasted broccoli delivers creamy comfort and green vegetable goodness in one delightful pan. Parmesan cheese and herbal notes elevate this simple Italian-inspired meal, making dinner both easy and satisfying for hungry palates.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Vegetables:

• 3 cups (710 ml) broccoli florets
• 4 garlic cloves, minced

Pasta and Cheese:

• 8 ounces (227 grams) cavatappi pasta
• 1 cup (240 ml) ricotta cheese
• Parmesan cheese (optional), for sprinkling

Seasonings and Liquids:

• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ to ¾ cup (120–180 ml) reserved pasta water
• Kosher salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• Crushed red pepper flakes, for topping

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Position oven rack to the middle and heat to 425°F. Spread broccoli florets onto a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and generously season with salt and pepper.
2. Roast broccoli for approximately 20 minutes, allowing edges to caramelize and develop a golden-brown color with slight charring.
3. Simultaneously, fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Cook pasta until it reaches al dente texture, carefully reserving pasta water before straining.
4. Warm remaining olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant and softened, releasing its aromatic essence.
5. Reduce heat and gently incorporate ricotta cheese, stirring continuously until the mixture transforms into a luxuriously smooth and creamy consistency.
6. Introduce fresh lemon juice and reserved pasta water, whisking until the sauce achieves a silky, uniform texture. Adjust liquid as needed to reach desired consistency.
7. Taste the ricotta sauce and fine-tune seasoning with additional salt and pepper to enhance flavor profile.
8. Transfer cooked pasta into the skillet, thoroughly coating each strand with the creamy ricotta sauce. Delicately fold in roasted broccoli florets.
9. Plate the pasta, garnishing with crushed red pepper flakes and optional Parmesan cheese sprinkle for an extra layer of flavor and texture.

Notes

• Roast broccoli at high heat to achieve golden, caramelized edges that add depth and crispiness to the dish.
• Reserve pasta water before draining, as the starchy liquid helps create a smooth, silky sauce that perfectly coats the pasta.
• Cook garlic gently over low heat to prevent burning and release its aromatic flavors without bitterness.
• Use a nonstick skillet to easily blend ricotta into a creamy sauce without sticking or scorching.
• Adjust sauce consistency by gradually adding reserved pasta water, ensuring a perfectly balanced and glossy texture.
• Customize heat and flavor by sprinkling red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese according to personal preference.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 300mg
• Fat: 18g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 60g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 16g
• Cholesterol: 25mg