If you’re into pasta with a vegetable kind of lover, then this garlicky (Aglio e Olio) sauce is delicious with Cavatelli and Broccoli and the perfect Italian pasta meal to make any day of the week.

The sauce can be a spicy flavored sauce with the addition of red pepper flakes or tamed down to your liking with lots of freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese added.

If you're a Cavatelli and Broccoli lover then this Italian pasta recipe will be your new favorite meal during that busy work week it's so simple to make!

This super easy pasta dish has just a few ingredients added and is perfect for busy weeknights, the kids love it and it's a good way to get them to eat their veggies.

Whether you use store-bought premade vegetables and pasta or all homemade this will be the perfect solution for busy folks who want a tasty meal in less than 30 minutes.

Of course, you can substitute a different veggie in place of broccoli, we surely will give you some ideas below for those picky eaters, but this one is a family favorite for over 100 years.

Scroll down to the printable recipe card and read just how simple this pasta and broccoli combination is to make it's so easy!

Easy Cavatelli Pasta

We love homemade pasta and cavatelli is an easy favorite.

Cavatelli is really easy to make from scratch and broccoli is almost always found fresh all year long.

You can, however, buy them frozen if you're in a hurry.

These are great with sauteed broccoli and the garlic sauce is addicting in flavor.

This is a nice light meal especially when you're in a hurry the whole dish from start to finish can be less than 30 minutes when using store-bought ingredients.

Either way, these are a big hit here in my household.

My whole family just loves them and we make this Italian-style pasta dish often even with different pasta so don't be afraid to use whatever you have on hand!

This is a homemade Italian pasta made with ricotta cheese, broccoli and garlic. It is a gourmet style lighter pasta with what is referred to as a white garlic sauce it contains no cream. This pasta is delicious served as a whole meal or side dish

Other Vegetables to Substitute for Broccoli

sauteed spinach
artichoke hearts
sundried tomatoes or chopped raw fresh tomatoes
sauteed escarole
sauteed broccoli rabe
sauteed peppers of any kind
sauteed squash zucchini or yellow
sauteed mushrooms
steamed green beans
sauteed asparagus
steamed cauliflower
vegetable medley

Tips

always steam and drain the broccoli
always salt the water then drain but do not rinse pasta(the sauce will stick to the pasta better)
never over saute the garlic or burn it will ruin this dish garlic should be light golden brown in color
refer to package instructions to cook store-bought cavatelli
broccoli gets stronger the next day in flavor if you have leftovers we try to eat this fresh the same day
homemade cavatelli is done when it floats to the top of the water after boiling

Cavatelli Pasta Suggestions

We use fresh pasta made from scratch, however, you can find it in the frozen food sections (or dry pasta in which I do not recommend.

The soft homemade of course is always the best.

Use fresh broccoli not frozen when possible.

When boiling the pasta always add salt.

When they float to the top of the boiling water, they are done.

Always use a good grade extra virgin olive oil in this recipe.

Note: if you're not a cavatelli lover, use any kind of pasta cooked to package instructions your family prefers.

this is a cavatelli homemade pasta with broccoli

Meat Additions

cooked Italian sliced sausage
sliced pepperoni
chopped and fried prosciutto or deli ham
crumbled fried bacon
cooked filet mignon slices
any cooked leftover meat you prefer