This Easy Broccoli Lemon Pasta Salad Recipe is a delicious, mayo-free salad to serve with your favorite meats at your next picnic or barbecue.
I’ve been a broccoli fan all of my life. Although, how could you not love broccoli when it was covered in the cheesiest of cheese sauces or amazing melted butter? Of course, I liked it! It was the best (kinda still is) and that’s how I had it most of the time.
But someone, a few years back when I was trying to eat healthier, told me to try drizzling lemon juice on my steamed broccoli. She said, “trust me, it’s delicious!”. And so I did and I’ve now been eating my broccoli this way ever since.
This Broccoli Lemon Pasta Salad recipe is very similar to having a side of steamed broccoli with lemon juice but, even maybe even better. Because there is pasta. And parmesan cheese.
Broccoli Lemon Pasta Salad is very easy to make — just a toss together cooked & cooled rotini pasta, freshly steamed broccoli florets, lemon slices and lemon juice, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and parmesan cheese. Season it up with some salt and pepper. Refrigerate for a bit and it’s ready to serve and enjoy.
Watch this video on how to make this Broccoli Lemon Pasta Salad Recipe:
This salad makes a delicious side dish for just about any meal, but especially when paired with your favorite meats – such as chicken, beef, or pork. It’s especially great if you want a mayo-free salad for your next picnic or barbecue.
Broccoli Lemon Pasta Salad Recipe
The complete recipe is below, ready for you to print.
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Easy Broccoli Lemon Pasta Salad Recipe
Description
This Easy Broccoli Lemon Pasta Salad Recipe is a delicious, mayo-free salad to serve with your favorite meats at your next picnic or barbecue.
Ingredients
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets (bite sized (fresh or frozen – see notes below))
- 1 lemon (sliced (optional))
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 3–4 tablespoons parmesan cheese (finely grated)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and immediately run under cold water until pasta is cooled. Drain completely.Â
- In a large bowl, place pasta, broccoli, and lemon slices (if using) in bowl.
- Drizzle pasta and broccoli with the lemon juice, olive oil, red wine vinegar, parmesan cheese, sea salt, and pepper. Toss well until pasta is coated and ingredients are combined.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Note: Sliced lemons are optional. They may also be omitted within the salad but used as a garnish before serving.
Notes
Broccoli Notes: You can use fresh or frozen broccoli for this recipe. If using fresh broccoli, we recommend steaming or blanching until tender-crisp. If you prefer, you could also use raw, uncooked broccoli.
If using frozen broccoli, you will want it completely thawed and drained.
In all cases, be sure your broccoli is cool before tossing in the salad.
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
rebecca says
I made this recipe and it was so bland. I even doubled the amount of lemon juice, olive oil and red wine vinegar and it was still bland. All I could do to save it was add Italian salad dressing to actually give it some flavor. It needs lemon zest, way more lemon juice and maybe even a little garlic to make this better.
Sherry says
That looks so pretty! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!
Jenny says
Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe. I will be featuring it in my Memorial Day Picnic Recipes on Sunday at 6pm PST. Hope to see you at the party!
Jann Olson says
Sounds delicious and refreshing! Thanks for sharing the recipe with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
a jar full of marigolds says
That looks delicious. Just the thing for a hot summer’s evening.
Miz Helen says
Your Broccoli Lemon Pasta Salad looks delicious! Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen
Akamatra says
This is just right my alley! My toddler would love this, thanks for the inspiring recipe!
Found you from the Best of the Weekend link party
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
This looks so bright and summery! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner Party!
Amy says
I love broccoli and pasta so this salad sounds wonderful. Thank your for sharing at Over the Moon Link Party.
Sue Ready says
sounds like a refreshing spring salad lemon and broccoli great pairing
2pots2cook says
We have a heat wave and this is just perfect timing. Pinning !
Monica @HappyandBlessedHome.com says
Shared and featuring at Family Fun Friday!
laura {not a trophy wife} says
Yum! Love the video. need a tutorial on how to make a video…..
Victoria Morris says
Popping over from Bloggers’ Spotlight- I love the look of this. Lemon makes everything more summery! Definitely one to add to my ‘take to work’ lunch list. I have pinned 🙂
Sharon@BlueWillowHouse says
This salad sounds wonderful and I can’t wait to try it. Thank you for sharing at the Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make link party!
Sharon@BlueWillowHouse says
I am featuring your salad tomorrow on Snickerdoodle.
Carol says
Sounds delicious! Pinned and shared.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
what a wonderfully refreshing salad! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up!