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

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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

How do you make pasta stay creamy? ›

You can add some cream, cheese and also a little boiled water in which the pasta was cooked. Adding all these elements will give your pasta sauce a thick and creamy structure.

What does heavy cream do to pasta sauce? ›

Cheese and dairy give sauces creaminess while butter and oil give them richness. You also don't need to use a lot — these are just for finishing and rounding out the flavors in a sauce. Whole Milk or Heavy Cream: Add a splash and let the sauce simmer for a few minutes to thicken.

Which pasta is best for cream sauce? ›

As a general rule, pair the heartier sauces with the wider noodles: Wide ribbons like pappardelle pair well with rich, meaty sauces while the thinner flat noodles, like fettuccine or linguine, are best paired with simple cream sauces like Alfredo or delicate proteins like seafood.

Can you use milk instead of heavy cream in 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.

What can I use instead of heavy cream for pasta? ›

The 10 Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream
  • Milk and butter.
  • Soy milk and olive oil.
  • Milk and cornstarch.
  • Half-and-half.
  • Tofu and soy.
  • Yogurt and milk.
  • Evaporated milk.
  • Cottage cheese and milk.

Is it better to make pasta with heavy cream or whipping cream? ›

You can easily make a sauce for pasta with heavy cream or whipping cream. Heavy cream will give you better results because it has a higher fat content, but whipping cream will be fine.

Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of heavy cream for pasta? ›

Yes! Since they are the same product, you can use heavy whipping cream and heavy cream interchangeably. Both are a versatile, all-purpose product for adding thick, creamy elements to sauces to soups to desserts, so it's worth keeping one on hand in your fridge.

How to make heavy cream with butter and milk? ›

How to Make Heavy Cream with Milk and Butter
  1. Add butter and milk to a saucepan, cook and stir over medium low heat, turn off the heat right after the butter is fully melted. ...
  2. Pour the mixture into a blender. ...
  3. Transfer the blended mixture to a large mixing bowl. ...
  4. Once you are ready to whip the cream.
May 28, 2023

Can you add heavy cream to jar pasta sauce? ›

This addition can help to balance out acidity and create a texture that will make your tastebuds sing. The trick with adding cream to your jar sauce is to start with a small amount so the taste isn't overwhelming. You can always add more cream, but if you add too much, it can be difficult to fix.

Is heavy whipping cream the same as heavy cream? ›

Heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are essentially the same thing—they both have over 36% milk fat, and the name just depends on the brand. Whipping cream, however, is slightly different—it contains 30% to 35% milk fat, so it's slightly lighter (it's sometimes labeled light whipping cream).

What happens if I add milk to pasta sauce? ›

It sounds unconventional to use milk in a meaty red sauce, but upon further investigation, it makes total sense why Italians swear by it. According to our Food Director Amira, not only does milk add a rich flavour to the bolognese, but it also “helps cut through the acidity of the tomatoes and red wine”.

Can you use milk instead of cream for creamy pasta? ›

Either one will give a wonderful balance of flavor and creaminess. Can you use milk instead of cream in pasta sauce? Whole milk or even a dairy-free milk, like almond milk, will work just fine in this recipe. They just won't thicken quite like half and half or cream.

Is cream sauce the same as Alfredo? ›

Cream-based sauces are the richest types of pasta sauces because they usually contain heavy cream, along with butter, cheese or both. Alfredo Sauce: Alfredo is a rich, creamy white sauce mixed with butter and grated Parmesan cheese seasoned with pepper, and sometimes nutmeg.

Is milk or cream better for pasta? ›

Can you substitute milk for heavy cream in pasta? Yes, however, it won't thicken in the same way as heavy cream. To get it thicker, whisk together 1 cup of whole milk (make sure it's COLD), 2 tablespoons of flour, and 2-3 tablespoons of melted butter (cooled).

Why does my pasta not stay creamy? ›

You don't properly cool the pasta.

"It's not wrong, and I have done it before in the past [but] to make a more creamy pasta dish after cooking the pasta, drain it, and cool it on a sheet tray," he advises.

How do you keep pasta from getting mushy? ›

Using a lid to trap heat in the pot will speed up this process. Water at an adequate boil will cook pasta faster, without suffering a significant temperature drop when the noodles are added, and this will keep your pasta from getting mushy.

How do you keep pasta and sauce from drying out? ›

Using Leftover Pasta

Reheat the sauce separately and then combine with the hot pasta as you would if you had made it fresh. If you are reheating sauced pasta, it is ideal to do so in the oven at 350 F for 20 minutes and to cover the dish with aluminum foil to lock in the moisture and prevent the pasta from drying out.

How do you keep homemade pasta from getting mushy? ›

How to Cook Pasta from Getting Mushy?
  1. You must use the right amount of water for pasta to cook evenly.
  2. Adding a fair amount of salt is a must for good pasta.
  3. Add a little bit of olive oil to the water in which you'll cook the pasta to keep it from sticking.
  4. Add pasta until water comes to a boil.
Jul 13, 2022

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