The Cozy Cookbook is here! 
This Cheese Pasta has your choice of pasta smothered in a delicious broccoli cheese sauce! This 30-minute recipe makes a perfect side dish or meatless meal! It also pairs well with chicken, pork, beef, and more!
Be sure to try my Pasta Primavera and Beefaroni recipes next!
Cheese Pasta
When you need a meal on the table fast, this Cheese Pasta will do the trick every time. This incredible broccoli cheese sauce is so flavorful. And I like that the sauce isn’t all dairy, it’s 50% chicken broth. (Yum!)
It also takes just 30 minutes to throw together- you’ll be shocked! You can enjoy this as a side dish or add rotisserie or leftover chicken right into the sauce at the end!
How to Make It
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Add butter/flour to a skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add sauce mixture in small splashes, stirring continuously.
Add broccoli. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add the cheese over low heat.
Add cooked pasta and stir to combine. It will continue to thicken upon standing.
Pro Tips
- Pasta: I used Gemelli pasta for this, but any kind will work! Rotini, Fusilli, Medium Shells, Macaroni, and even Penne are all good candidates!
- Cheese: I use Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Yellow Cheddar and Belgioioso Parmesan for this recipe.
- Broccoli: If you prefer larger chunks of broccoli, boil it with the pasta during the last 4 minutes or so instead of cooking it in the sauce.
- Grate the cheese from a block/wedge as it will melt and taste much better than packaged grated cheese.
- Ensure the base of the sauce isn’t too hot when the cheese is added, otherwise the dairy can separate and create a grainy consistency.
- Hot Sauce: The hot sauce is used as a flavor enhancer and can’t be tasted outright, I use Frank’s Hot Sauce.
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Leftovers freeze/reheat well.
Tools For This Recipe
(Amazon affiliate links)- Check out all of my kitchen essentials here.
- 12-inch Skillet– This is the one pictured in this recipe.
- Box cheese grater – Cheese based soups and sauces should always be made with freshly grated/shredded cheese, as it melts much creamier.
- 1 quart measuring cup with a spout– This is what I use to combine the sauce ingredients at the beginning. The spout makes it easy to add it to the roux in small splashes.
- Pasta Strainer– I have this one and love it.
- Measuring Spoons– I have these magnetic ones which stay nice and organized in my utensil drawer.
Try These Next
-
- Pasta Primavera
-
- Creamy Chicken Pasta
-
- Mushroom Chicken Pasta
-
- Taco Spaghetti
-
- Beef and Broccoli Ramen
-
- Beefaroni
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Tried This Recipe?
Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cheese Pasta
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup half and half
- ½ chicken bouillon cube
- 1 tsp hot sauce, I use Frank's hot sauce. Doesn't make it spicy.
- ½ teaspoon EACH: onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, basil, mustard powder, parsley
Pasta
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 ½ cups broccoli, very finely chopped. See notes.
- ½ lb. Gemelli pasta, see notes
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Note: Ensure the broccoli is very finely chopped for this recipe to ensure it cooks through.
- Combine the chicken broth, half and half, 1/2 bouillon cube, hot sauce, and seasonings in a large measuring cup with a spout and set aside. Measure out remaining ingredients before beginning.
- Begin boiling water for the pasta. Once a boil is reached, salt the water. (I use 1/2 tbsp. kosher salt.)
- Melt the butter in a large, high-walled skillet over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth mixture from step 1 in small splashes, stirring continuously. Add the broccoli. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Cover partially while you boil the pasta to al dente. Gently stir the pasta periodically throughout cooking. Drain once cooked.
- Reduce heat of the sauce to low and stir in the cheese until combined.
- Add the pasta and stir to combine. It will continue to thicken and absorb the sauce upon standing. Serve!
Notes
- Pasta: I used Gemelli pasta for this, but any kind will work! Rotini, Fusilli, Medium Shells, Macaroni, and even Penne are all good candidates!
- Cheese: I use Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Yellow Cheddar and Belgioioso Parmesan for this recipe.
- Broccoli: If you prefer larger chunks of broccoli, boil it with the pasta during the last 4 minutes or so instead of cooking it in the sauce.
- Grate the cheese from a block/wedge as it will melt and taste much better than packaged grated cheese.
- Ensure the base of the sauce isn't too hot when the cheese is added, otherwise the dairy can separate and create a grainy consistency.
- Hot Sauce: The hot sauce is used as a flavor enhancer and can't be tasted outright, I use Frank's Hot Sauce.
Storage
- Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Leftovers freeze/reheat well.
Nutritional Information
- The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving. There are 4 servings in this recipe.
SOS! I think there’s a cook error (as in, I’m the problem) with both the Cheese Pasta and Chicken Divan recipes. What brand of mustard powder do you use? The first time I made both of these dishes, I followed them correctly and LOVED them. The next time I made either one, I again followed the directions exactly, but the taste of mustard powder overpowered both! I believe I switched brands at some point, but I have no idea why that would make such a huge difference.
I’m giving this recipe five stars because it’s GOOD. I like to add shredded chicken!
Hi Nicole! I use Colman’s mustard powder, just 1 teaspoon, and can never detect it! 🙂
Thank you! I’ll grab that!
I’ll also add that this reheats up really well! I put our leftovers in a square baking dish and added Ritz crackers on top with melted butter, and it was great! Thanks for sharing such great recipes that my whole family loves!
Perfect!!! I agree, I love the way that this one reheats! Adding Ritz on top sounds amazing, thank you so much for sharing, I’m sure others will try it! Thank you so much for your support! 🌺 -Stephanie
Absolutely love! So delish and perfect comfort food for a chilly weekend meal! Love your recipes!
Thanks so much Emily!❤️ Definitely a nice cozy meal for a chilly day!
I always have doubts about online recipes: I’ve been burned in the past! But this recipe is so easy to follow and it doesn’t require some weird exotic ingredient. Even though I eyeballed the cheese measurements, added chicken, and accidentally cooked the broccoli in the sauce (I chopped bigger pieces), it still came out wonderful.
I’m so happy you put your trust in me Diana! I’d love for you to check out some more recipes😃 Thanks so much for the review!💗
Quite tasty and easy to make, i used sriracha and could definitely taste the heat but not over the top at all.
I’m so happy you liked it Royal! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!🩷
So easy to make, yet so comforting and delicious. Our family of four loved it!
Yayyy! I’m so happy your family enjoyed it. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review!💖
Simply delicious!
Thank you so much Kelly! I’m so happy to hear that you loved it!!
This recipe was delicious. My daughter had a friend over last night so I made this for them. They cleaned their plates. I especially like how you said to cut the broccoli small. I think they actually ate more of it this way:) (Note to Self for future veggies). I know you probably did that so it would cook faster but I’m a fan and so were they. Will def make again!
I’m so happy it was such a hit with you daughter and friend Kayla! Thanks so much for the great review!💗
Very fast and easy to make. Tasty. We like cheese so added more. Will make again.
I’m so happy that you loved it Kim!! A little more cheese never hurt anyone! 😉 Thank you so much for the review, I appreciate it so much! -Stephanie
Great flavor to this comfort food. I was extremely simple to make.
I’m so happy that you love it Kelly! Thank you sooo much for taking the time to leave a review, you’re the best! -Stephanie
This was very good. I made it just as you had it I deleted nothing. I did however add one large carrot that I thinly sliced and steamed before adding in. I think cauliflower would also work. Thank you for the recipe!!
I’m so happy that you loved it Joyce, and I love that you incorporated carrots! I agree that cauliflower would be a great candidate in this! Thank you so much for the review!! -Stephanie
Made this for lunch today and loved the richness in flavor! I opted to cook the broccoli in the boiling pasta the last few minutes as I like bigger pieces. Thank you Stephanie!
I’m sooo happy that you loved it Chrissy! The picture that you shared on Instagram was DROOL-worthy! I’m ready to make another batch! Thank you so much for the review, I appreciate it so much! -Stepanie