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Is there anything better than curling up with a scrumptious bowl of creamy pasta on a cold night?! I think not! I was recipe testing all last week for the upcoming $100 Vegetarian Aldi Meal Plan and I made this Vegetarian Broccoli Alfredo Pasta and knocked my own socks off!
Coming up with vegetarian recipes was a bit tricky for me since we eat meat. But I also didn’t want to come up with recipes that weren’t kid friendly. This vegetarian alfredo is definitely a dish your whole family will love.
It was so easy to make but packed a ton of flavor, I fell in love instantly. You definitely don’t miss the chicken in this recipe, it’s perfect just the way it is! So if you’re looking for delicious meatless comfort food, give this vegetarian alfredo a try!
Vegetarian Alfredo Recipe
Vegetarian Broccoli Alfredo Bake
This rich and creamy vegetarian alfredo bake is an easy to make family-favorite. With only a few ingredients and less than 30 minutes, you'll have a delicious dinner perfect for Meatless Monday!
Ingredients
- 12-ounces heavy cream
- 1/4 cup butter
- 5-ounces parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 8-ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 12-ounces steam-in-bag broccoli florets
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- Bring water to boil in a 5-quart nonstick pot. Once boiling, salt the water and add penne. Cook until penne is al dente (about 7-8 minutes). Save 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- While penne cooks, microwave broccoli for 3 minutes. Drain and rough chop it if you like the pieces smaller. At this time, grate the mozzarella cheese and set aside.
- After you drain the penne, add cream and butter to the same pot you cooked it in. Heat over medium-low until cream starts to simmer, then add Parmesan cheese and whisk until its smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add penne and broccoli to the cream sauce. Stir to coat everything and add 1/4-1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water you saved to thin the sauce if it’s a little thick.
- If your pot is oven safe, leave the pasta in it. If it’s not oven safe, spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and pour pasta into it.
- Top with mozzarella cheese and broil for 5-6 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
2 cupsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 675
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
Recipe Notes
- You can add 2 cups of cooked, cubed rotisserie chicken if you don’t care about keeping this a vegetarian alfredo.
- You can substitute 3 cups of fresh broccoli if that’s what you have on hand. Either boil it in water for 3 minutes or cook it in a microwave steamer for 3 minutes.
- Pull your cooking liquid just before draining by using a coffee mug. Simply dunk the mug in the water to grab some safely without burning yourself. Check out this video here to see what I mean.
- Shredding your own cheese will give you the creamiest result. Using full-fat mozzarella helps too.
- This pan is my favorite because it can go from stove top to oven with no issues. It’s oven-safe up to 500 degrees!
Need More Vegetarian Meal Ideas?
If you love the broccoli and cheese combination, be sure to check out my Broccoli Cheese Quiche recipe. It’s delicious and only requires five ingredients!
Need a super elegant side dish that comes together quick? Try my Arugula Asparagus Salad for a healthy accompaniment to any dinner.
Need a vegetarian appetizer to bring to your next party? Try my Spinach Artichoke Dip and you’ll have everyone asking for the recipe!
$100 Vegetarian Aldi Meal Plan
One more thing before you go! If you liked this vegetarian alfredo, make sure to grab your copy of my $100 Vegetarian Aldi Meal Plan. It’s totally free and really helpful if you’re trying to reduce your grocery bill.
What It Includes:
- + 7 Vegetarian Dinner Recipes
- + Vegetarian breakfast, lunch and snack list
- + Complete shopping list of all ingredients needed to make breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for a family of four for under $100.
- + Pictures of all 7 vegetarian dinners
Don’t miss out on this incredible meal planner! It’s a great first step to reducing your grocery budget and eating less meat. These recipes are kid-tested and husband approved.
Grab your copy and get started today. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it in the comments below.
Taran is a self-proclaimed undomestic mom. She thrives as a stay-at-home-mom by consistently carving out time for herself and practicing realistic self-care. As a busy mom of 3, she knows that if mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy! With a focus on how SAHMs can carve out time for themselves everyday, she teaches fellow SAHMs how they can do the same.
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