Description
A quick, restaurant-quality creamy garlic parmesan butter pasta that comes together in under 30 minutes. This budget-friendly weeknight dinner is simple to make, pantry-friendly, and customizable with various add-ins.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Fresh black pepper, for serving
- Fresh basil, for serving (optional)
- Olive oil, for drizzling (optional)
Instructions
- Prep ingredients: Chop garlic, grate Parmesan, and measure out all components before starting to cook.
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain pasta and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter with a little olive oil. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to brown the garlic.
- Build sauce: Pour in chicken broth and simmer for 2 minutes. Add heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce slightly thickens.
- Add cheese: Remove the skillet from heat. Gradually stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time.
- Combine: Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat evenly. Adjust consistency with more pasta water if needed. Taste and adjust salt.
- Serve: Serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan, fresh black pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan from a block, as pre-grated cheese contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy. Always remove the pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent separation. Save the starchy pasta water; it helps emulsify the sauce. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream and reduce the Parmesan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
Keywords: pasta, creamy garlic parmesan, weeknight dinner, easy recipe, Italian pasta, butter sauce, quick meals, comfort food