One of my all-time favorite no-brainer quick-fix meals is pasta + broccoli + butter + Parmesan (aka Bowties and Broccoli). But what I discovered this week is that sprinkling a little ranch seasoning mix over top really takes it to the next level! This Ranch Broccoli Pasta just takes minutes to make and is full of deliciously creamy, tangy, herby ranch flavor!
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What Kind of Ranch Seasoning to Use
I used a half batch of my homemade ranch seasoning, but you can use a store-bought packet of ranch seasoning mix if you prefer. This recipe calls for 1.5 Tbsp of ranch seasoning, which is about ½ of a store-bought packet. Of course, you could always add more seasoning if you prefer!
Use Any Pasta
Another reason that I love this quick-fix meal is that you can do this with whatever shape pasta you have. So it’s a great way to use up odds and ends of boxes of pasta that you may have hanging out in your pantry (if you’re like me and rarely cook an entire pound of pasta at once).
What Else Can I Add?
As usual, this recipe is a great jumping-off point for a number of fun variations. Here are some other ingredients you can add to take this easy meal up a notch:
- Diced grilled chicken
- Bacon
- Grated Parmesan
- Grape tomatoes (sliced in half)
Ranch Broccoli Pasta
Servings 4Ingredients
- 8 oz. pasta (any shape) ($0.50)
- 1/2 lb. frozen broccoli florets ($0.72)
- 2 Tbsp butter ($0.20)
- 1.5 Tbsp ranch seasoning ($0.27)
- 1/8 tsp salt (or to taste) ($0.01)
- 1/8 tsp freshly cracked pepper ($0.01)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add the pasta and continue to boil until the pasta is tender (about 7-10 minutes).
- When the pasta is just tender, add the frozen broccoli florets to the boiling water with the pasta, and let it sit for about one minute. Reserve a ¼ cup of the starchy pasta water, then drain the pasta and broccoli in a colander.
- Return the drained pasta and broccoli to the pot with the burner turned off. Add the butter and ranch seasoning and stir until the butter is melted and everything is coated in the seasoning. If the pasta becomes dry while stirring, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
- Finally, season the pasta with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.
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Nutrition
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How to Make Ranch Broccoli Pasta – Step by Step Photos
Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add the pasta and continue to boil until the pasta is tender (7-10 minutes). Add the frozen broccoli florets during the last minute of boiling. Reserve a 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta water, then drain the pasta and broccoli in a colander.
Add the drained pasta and broccoli back to the pot (heat turned off) and add 2 Tbsp butter and about 1.5 Tbsp ranch seasoning mix. Stir until the butter is melted and everything is coated in butter and seasoning. If the pasta become dry while stirring, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
Taste the pasta and add salt and pepper to your liking. Serve warm! So simple, so delish. :)
My toddler, husband, and I love this recipe! It’s so cheap but delicious 😋 I add a little more butter (definitely not healthy) and I use gluten free pasta to make it gluten free! Yum!
I doubled the recipe, used whole wheat ziti, fresh broccoli, and added halved marinated mozzarella balls and a pint of halved cherry tomatoes both at the end. The fresh broccoli went in a couple of minutes after the pasta started and the rest of the ingredients went in after it came off the heat. It was perfect as a one pot vegetarian meal for a big family!
Next time I’ll double the ranch seasoning. Make sure to salt to taste to make sure it’s not bland. Served with roasted carrots, delicious. Easy vegetarian meal when I’m trying to reduce meat.
It’s a good recipe. I made the basic version and found it a little under-flavored, bland. I will try it again but take the author’s recommendation to add cherry tomatoes. That will likely add another counterpoint to just broccoli.
On the broccoli, I found only one minute in the pasta water, even after I left them out to thaw for about an hour, too little time to soften. The broccoli was cooked but still a bit too hard. I’d give it another minute next time around so it’s firm, has some crunch, but isn’t hard or over-boiled/slimy.
Last, I used pretty high-end butter (Kerry Gold) and the ranch at the specified amount yet found the flavor too light; I’ll go heavier with both on my next attempt. If you don’t mind adding a little to the cost, I’m going to try more like 2.5 tablespoons of ranch seasoning, and maybe another tablespoon of butter. Even that may be too light, but I doubt for many it would be over-kill. I may also pad the butter out with a tablespoon of ghee or replace it entirely. Clarified butter has a different taste which would make the butter-flavor more complex.
I feel this will make the dish more to my personal taste, but liked what this recipe yielded as a jumping off point; the author likely prefers a lighter taste and firmer broccoli than I do.
Dear budgetbyte$ My name is Jeff. R Yes, I love ranch broccoli
Pasta. I know how to cook ranch broccoli pasta easy fast. I like it. Good mmm 😘👌Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐😁👍
I love how simple and delicious this is. Even my toddler gobbled it up. Definitely one to keep handy for busy nights! I added chicken and a little parmesan and it was *chef’s kiss*
I thought this was just ok. Made as directed and used chickpea pasta. I ate it but wouldn’t make again.
I followed the basic recipe – only difference is that I cooked the pasta in enough water not to have to drain it. Then added butter and ranch seasoning mix to the pot when the pasta was done cooking. It makes a light creamy sauce that goes great with the veggies and pasta. It was a nice change from the usual. Would definitely make it again. Good flavor and a quick and easy dinner. 👍🏻👍🏻
My family loves this recipe! It’s in our regular rotation. I usually make a modified ranch version of the lemon chicken to go along with it.
Trying this now I added fire roasted tomatoes and garlic and chicken with yummy
Tried this with bacon as was suggested, and it was a hit! Will be making this with bacon pretty much from here on out.
Going to try this.
So cheap and easy and quick. Great for me as a vegetarian college student, really ideal for when I want a home cooked meal but am feeling lazy about it haha.
So good! This is perfect for my arsenal of quick, nutritious meals to make for my family on busy weekdays. Everybody loved it, but I think my toddler and baby would have consumed more broccoli if it was cooked longer and broken down into the pasta. They didn’t like the big chunks. I added some grocery store rotisserie chicken (and more butter and ranch seasoning) and it was a perfect meal. Thanks!
Made this last night and it was a hit with everyone!
I added a cut up cooked chicken breast. I decided to use the whole batch of seasoning since I added the chicken. I kept the same amount of butter, but I think next time I will add another tablespoon of butter and a little more reserved water. I expected it to have more flavor than it did.
We made this for dinner last night and it was SO good, and couldn’t have been easier! We added shredded parm on top for serving and had it alongside garlic bread and salad. The only thing I would change next time is adding more of the dry ranch seasoning to give it even more flavor :) definitely adding this one to our regular rotation of dinner recipes, thank you!
Really good! So many ranch pastas have mayo in them so this was a nice change. I used kroger brand ranch seasoning and it was great.
How could you not love, love, love this. So quick to make over and over.
Can olive oil be substituted for the butter? Thank you
Well, it will definitely be less creamy, but it might still taste pretty good.
We only use fresh broccoli, and wonder how long the broccoli would need to cook before turning the burner off.
It depends on how tender you like it, but I would say probably between 3-5 minutes.
I gave the fresh broccoli 3 minutes and it was quite soft. Next time I’ll try just 2.
You put the fresh broccoli in the pasta water for 3 min? I only use fresh too and was wondering about this. I guess maybe put the broccoli in with the pasta the last 2 min or so?