Description
Creamy Boursin Cheese Pasta with Broccoli brings French-inspired comfort straight to your dinner table. Silky sauce, tender broccoli, and rich cheese create a luxurious meal that satisfies both quick weeknight cravings and elegant dining desires.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (penne, rotini, or preferred type)
- 1 cup broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
- 5 ounces (142 grams) Boursin cheese (Garlic & Fine Herbs flavor recommended)
Dairy and Cream Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (or milk for a lighter option)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional, for brightness)
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water (to adjust sauce consistency)
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot with generously salted water, bringing it to a rolling boil at high heat.
- Add pasta and cook according to package timing, approximately 8-9 minutes, maintaining a steady simmer.
- Introduce broccoli florets into the boiling water during the final two minutes of pasta cooking, ensuring vibrant green color and crisp-tender texture.
- Extract and preserve half a cup of starchy pasta water before draining the pasta and broccoli in a colander.
- Return the same pot to medium heat, allowing butter to melt and become slightly golden around the edges.
- Quickly sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds, releasing its aromatic essence without browning.
- Reduce heat to low and incorporate Boursin cheese, stirring continuously until it melts into a creamy consistency.
- Gradually introduce heavy cream, whisking smoothly to create a velvety sauce.
- Adjust sauce texture by incorporating reserved pasta water, creating a silky, clingy coating.
- Season the sauce with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes for subtle heat.
- Reintroduce pasta and broccoli to the pot, gently folding to ensure complete sauce coverage.
- Optional: Sprinkle Parmesan cheese, allowing it to melt and enhance the sauce’s richness.
- Perform a final taste test, adjusting seasoning as needed.
- Garnish with fresh herb sprigs and a delicate lemon zest sprinkle.
- Serve immediately while the pasta remains piping hot and sauce luxuriously creamy.
Notes
- Pasta Water Magic helps create a silky, smooth sauce by adding starchy liquid that helps Boursin cheese melt perfectly and bind with cream.
- Customize Heat Levels by adjusting red pepper flakes for those who love spice or prefer a milder flavor profile.
- Dietary Swap Options include using gluten-free pasta, plant-based butter, and dairy-free cheese alternatives for vegetarian or lactose-sensitive individuals.
- Quick Prep Tip involves chopping broccoli into smaller florets to ensure even cooking and faster integration with pasta sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg