15 Minute Creamy Garlic Pasta Recipe (2024)

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This creamy garlic pastais fast, simple, and delicious! A weeknight favorite. This easy pasta recipe can be on your table in about 15 minutes!

15 Minute Creamy Garlic Pasta Recipe (1)

Sometimes you just want comfort food. And fast. This pasta does this trick!

There’s plenty of creamy pasta recipes out there… some made with cream, and others with cream cheese or milk. You can’t beat the taste of real cream, in my opinion, so that’s what I went with. This recipe isn’t far off Fettuccine Alfredo, so if you like that, you’ll probably like this garlic parmesan pasta.

15 Minute Creamy Garlic Pasta Recipe (2)

How to make creamy garlic pasta sauce (overview):

In a skillet, make a quick roux with the butter and flour, then stir in the garlic and chicken broth. You then add the cream and let the sauce thicken. Just prior to serving, add the parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Toss with the pasta and enjoy! (Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below)

Sooo easy. And that creamy garlic sauce is so tasty.

15 Minute Creamy Garlic Pasta Recipe (3)

Recipe notes & tips:

  • I like this pasta as-is, but it’s a great blank canvas for adding in cooked chicken or other type or protein. You could even add some veggies (try a handful of peas) if you wanted to.
  • I used linguine, but any kind of pasta (whatever’s in stock in your pantry!) will do. Penne would work great in this creamy pasta dish.
  • I definitely recommend adding the parsley because it livens the dish up a bit. The freshness and touch of green is the perfect balance to the decadence of the creamy sauce.
  • You could make this creamy pasta sauce with milk or half-and-half, but I haven’t tested it out. You’ll end up with a thinner sauce, but you will save some calories. If you do want to go that route, I suggest adding a touch more flour (but not too much more – you don’t want it to taste too floury) and/or cooking it for a bit longer so it reduces.
  • I used chicken broth because it adds a lot of flavor to this simple dish. You could sub with vegetable broth if you really need this dish to be vegetarian, but I do personally prefer the taste when you use chicken broth/stock.

You may also like…

  • Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
  • Chicken Tortellini Alfredo
  • 15 Minute Creamy Alfredo Gnocchi
  • Easy Shrimp Alfredo
  • Lemon Parmesan Chicken Alfredo Recipe
  • Creamy Penne Pasta

15 Minute Creamy Garlic Pasta Recipe (4)

I hope you will love this easy creamy garlic parmesan pasta recipe! Will you give it a try? Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.

15 Minute Creamy Garlic Pasta Recipe (5)

4.90 from 19 votes

Creamy Garlic Pasta

By Natasha Bull

This creamy garlic pastais fast, easy, and delicious! A weeknight favorite. This easy pasta recipe can be on your table in about 15 minutes!

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces uncooked pasta I used linguine
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon flour
  • 2-3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley chopped, to taste

Instructions

  • Boil a salted pot of water for the pasta. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions.

  • When the pasta isn't far from being cooked, it's time to start the sauce. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the flour and let the roux cook for 2 minutes, stirring often.

  • Stir in the garlic and chicken broth and let it simmer for about a minute.

  • Add in the cream and let the sauce cook for a few more minutes until it's thickened to your liking, then add the parmesan cheese, salt & pepper as needed, and parsley. Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce until well coated (add a little pasta water if you wish to thin the sauce a bit). Serve immediately.

Notes

  • I do all the prep while the pasta is cooking, so that's why I don't put anything for prep time.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 481kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Protein: 12g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 96mg, Sodium: 232mg, Potassium: 201mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 1035IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 148mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

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15 Minute Creamy Garlic Pasta Recipe (6)

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15 Minute Creamy Garlic Pasta Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to perfect pasta? ›

Let the water come to a boil first.

Wait until the water comes to a rapid, aggressive boil before adding your pasta. Throwing in the pasta too early when the water isn't hot enough can result in some sticky, gummy noodles. Patience, friend.

What to put in pasta to make it taste better? ›

One simple trick to enhance the flavor of pasta is to add a dash of salt to the boiling water before cooking the pasta. This will infuse the pasta with salty flavor and help it to taste better. Additionally, try tossing the cooked pasta with olive oil, herbs, and Parmesan cheese to add more depth of flavor.

Which cream to use in pasta? ›

Heavy Cream

You can't make cream sauce for pasta without cream! For a slightly lighter twist, try using half milk and half heavy cream.

What is the golden rule for pasta? ›

To be sure that your pasta is cooked correctly, it is enough to follow a few, simple rules. To begin with, you should keep in mind the right quantities. In Italy, the golden rule for cooking pasta is 1, 10, 100 or 1 liter of water, 10 grams of salt for every 100 grams of pasta.

What does more egg do to pasta? ›

The more egg white, the more pliable the dough; the more yolk, the richer the pasta will be. There are endless variations, but for a dough that works every time use: 1 whole egg plus 2 yolks for every 150g of flour.

Can I use milk instead of heavy cream for creamy pasta? ›

Whole milk is an excellent substitute for heavy cream. It adds richness to your pasta sauce without the excess fat. Simply simmer your favourite pasta sauce with whole milk until it thickens to your desired consistency. The result is a velvety and indulgent sauce that pairs beautifully with pasta.

Is it better to cook pasta with heavy cream or cream? ›

Culinary Applications

For decadent desserts and rich sauces, heavy cream is your go-to. In contrast, cooking cream is better suited for everyday cooking, especially in savoury dishes.

How do you get cream to stick to pasta? ›

Why starchy pasta water is your best friend! You'll hear me harp on about the magic that is pasta water in 99% of my recipes. It really is a key ingredient in every sauce I make. The starch left behind in the water acts as a thickening agent and helps sauces cling to the pasta.

Is pasta healthier than rice? ›

In conclusion, both pasta and rice can be healthy options when consumed in moderation and paired with nutrient-dense ingredients. However, if we were to compare the two, whole-grain pasta is generally considered a healthier option than white rice due to its higher fiber content and lower glycemic index.

Can I eat pasta everyday and be healthy? ›

They might be having pasta with vegetables and lean protein, like fish. "It's not just a bottomless bowl of pasta (like) we tend to do in the United States," she says. While it's totally OK to have pasta a lot (even daily), it's important to make sure "it's not the star of the show," Susie says.

Which spaghetti is the healthiest? ›

What Is The Healthiest Type of Pasta?
  • Whole-Wheat Pasta. Whole wheat pasta, or whole grain pasta, is made from the entire grain of the wheat stalk, including the bran, endosperm, and germ. ...
  • Chickpea Pasta. ...
  • Legume-Based Pastas. ...
  • Soba Noodles. ...
  • Rice Noodles. ...
  • Quinoa Noodles. ...
  • Vegetable Noodles. ...
  • White Pasta.

How do you get the perfect amount of pasta? ›

According to the USDA, the proper pasta portion is 2 ounces. If you're making longer noodles (think spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine), you can measure the right amount by holding the pasta up to a quarter. Once a bunch of noodles equals the diameter of the coin, you have the recommended 2 ounces. Put it in your palm.

What are the golden rules of cooking pasta? ›

10 rules for perfect pasta. By Matt Preston
  • Use a large, light pot. ...
  • Season your pasta water with lots of salt. ...
  • Never add oil to the boiling water.
  • Add your pasta when the water is bubbling furiously. ...
  • Serve your pasta “al dente”.

How do you make perfectly cooked pasta? ›

Steps
  1. Use a large pot. ...
  2. Load up the pot with lots of water. ...
  3. Salt the water. ...
  4. Bring the water to a full, rolling boil. ...
  5. Stir to keep the pasta from sticking. ...
  6. Test the pasta two minutes before it's “ready” ...
  7. Save a scoop of pasta water. ...
  8. Drain, toss with sauce, and serve hot.
Jul 19, 2019

How to make pasta like a pro? ›

How To Cook Pasta: 10 Tips And Tricks
  1. DON'T put oil in your water or on your pasta. ...
  2. Fill your pot properly. ...
  3. Salt your water like the sea. ...
  4. Bring water to a rapid boil before adding the pasta. ...
  5. Drop and stir. ...
  6. Check the package for timing. ...
  7. Always save some cooking water. ...
  8. Drain don't dry.

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