Easy Broccoli Pesto Pasta Almondine

Broccoli pesto pasta almondine is an easy, delicious dinner the whole family will love! With just 5 ingredients, you're only 15 minutes away from having a tasty balanced meal on the table. (vegetarian)

This post is sponsored by Nestlé and Buitoni as part of the Balance Your Plate initiative. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Lively Table running!

For as long as I can remember, eating dinner together as a family has always been an important part of my day – every single day – which is why I'm super excited to celebrate Family Meals Month this September!

Growing up, dinner was a time for my family to be together over a good meal. It might have been the only time we all saw each other all day. Whether my mom cooked, which was most of the time, or we picked up takeout from a local restaurant, we always made an effort to eat together when we could.

Fast forward to college when I met Mr. Table. Since the very beginning, we ate dinner together almost every night. Sometimes he would take me on a dinner date, and sometimes I'd go to his house and cook. But we almost never missed a dinner together in the almost four years that we dated, and it was a time we both truly cherished.

Now that we're married, our dinners together are still super important. No matter how chaotic the day has been, it’s a chance to enjoy each other's company and talk over a good meal. And since we just added another member, family dinner is something we plan to continue doing as we raise her (and any other kiddos that may come along!)

Research has shown many benefits of shared meals. For me, eating dinner as a family is an important time to communicate and foster relationships, but it's also such a big opportunity to model healthy behaviors with food. This is why I plan to use the time to teach my kids how to eat intuitively and trust their bodies. By role modeling balanced eating patterns and prompting fruitful conversations (free from topics on body weight and “good” and “bad” food labels), family dinner is a great tool to establish healthy relationships from the start.

Getting a balanced dinner on the table that the whole family will love is often easier said than done, especially with a newborn. I follow a simple formula to help me round out convenience meals, like refrigerated pasta or a frozen entrée when I'm short on time:

Prepared entrée + veggies and/or fruit + protein = a balanced plate (or bowl)

Using the Balance Your Plate method as a guide, I created a quick and delicious broccoli pesto pasta almondine – a nutritious 15-minute dinner that’s both husband and kid approved:

Buitoni Angel Hair Pasta + veggies (broccoli) + protein (almonds) + yummy flavors (Buitoni Pesto + Parmesan cheese) = a balanced plate.

With Buitoni, it's easy to create a delicious meal that's perfectly balanced with veggies (or fruit), protein, healthy fat, and carbohydrates. All I had to do was add a bunch of fresh broccoli (I used baby broccoli because Mr. Table likes it better), toasted almonds, and freshly shaved parmesan to the cooked pasta, stir in some pesto, and I had a complete, balanced meal ready to go in no time!

As with most super simple dinners, quality ingredients make a huge difference in creating a more delicious meal. That's why I love Buitoni refrigerated pasta and sauces. They're made with simple, high-quality ingredients for freshness and flavor. Buying the best Parmesan you can find and a big, beautiful crown of broccoli will help make this broccoli pesto pasta almondine truly spectacular.

If you want some extra protein in this broccoli pesto pasta almondine, add in a can of cooked, warmed chickpeas or some leftover chicken or fish. Then gather ‘round the table for an easy dinner this Family Meals Month!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a star rating in the comments below!

Easy Broccoli Pesto Pasta Almondine

Broccoli pesto pasta almondine is an easy, delicious dinner the whole family will love! With just 5 ingredients, you're only 15 minutes away from having a balanced meal on the table. (vegetarian)

• Author: Kaleigh
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 3-4 servings 1x
• Category: main dish
• Method: baked
• Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 bunch broccoli or baby broccoli
• 1 (9 oz) package Buitoni Angel Hair Pasta
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• ½ cup slivered almonds
• 1 (7 oz) package Buitoni Pesto with Basil
• ½ cup freshly shaved Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Cut broccoli into florets, or if using broccolini, trim ends.
2. Heat oven to 400°F. Spread almonds into a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast for 5 minutes, watching carefully so that they don't burn. Remove from oven.
3. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add oil, pasta and broccoli. Gently boil for 1 ½ to 2 minutes, or until pasta is al dente.
4. Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.
5. Place pasta and broccoli back on the stove over the lowest heat setting. Add the pesto and gently toss, adding pasta cooking water as needed to create a sauce.
6. Plate pasta and top with almonds and Parmesan.

Keywords: broccoli pesto pasta, pesto pasta almondine

Visit the Balance Your Plate website at www.nestleusa.com/balance and Pinterest board at www.pinterest.com/balanceplate/ for more quick and nutritious meal inspiration and ideas!