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)

Hi! I’m Natasha.

Salt & Lavender is a recipe blog with a focus on delicious comfort food using everyday ingredients. Beat the weekday grind with hundreds of easy-to-follow and hassle-free recipes!

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15 Minute Creamy Garlic Pasta Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What cream is used for pasta? ›

If you don't have double cream, use single cream or crème fraîche instead. Soft cheese, such as cream cheese, can be used as alternative too – it's richer than the cream, so 100g/3½oz should be plenty, along with an extra splash of water.

What can I add to pasta to make it better? ›

18–22. Herbs and spices
  1. Basil. Basil is a flavorful herb and a mainstay in many Italian dishes, including pasta. ...
  2. Oregano. Oregano is a culinary herb known for its peppery and pungent taste. ...
  3. Rosemary. ...
  4. Red pepper flakes. ...
  5. Garlic powder.
Apr 11, 2022

How to make pasta really good? ›

10 Tips to Do Pasta Night Right
  1. Use a big enough pot. ...
  2. Use plenty of water. ...
  3. Season the pasta water — ...
  4. Let the water come to a boil first. ...
  5. Stir right away — and every couple minutes. ...
  6. Don't rely solely on the cooking time on your pasta's package. ...
  7. Cook your pasta to just before al dente. ...
  8. Reserve the pasta water.

How do you make instant pasta better? ›

  1. Add water(one and half glass )
  2. Add noodles.
  3. Add spices(provided in packed)
  4. Add any spice like pasta spice, red powder(half spoon)
  5. Add piece of cheese(5–8 piece)
  6. Add flakes if you have(one pinch)
  7. Last add any sauce expect of soy sauce(one spoon)
May 6, 2021

Is heavy cream and heavy whipping cream the same thing? ›

Yes, heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are the exact same thing. The confusion lies in the fact that they're sold by different brands under two different names. According to the US Food and Drug Administration's labelling standards, heavy cream must contain at least 36 percent milk fat.

Can I use milk instead of 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 put on pasta when I have no sauce? ›

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

What is the secret to perfect pasta? ›

Always bring water to the boil before adding pasta. Otherwise the exterior will start to turn mushy before the center softens. Once boiling, add plenty of salt: about 7 grams per liter of water; this doesn't just flavour the pasta, but also shortens its cooking time.

What is the best flour for pasta? ›

Semolina flour is good for pasta because it's a hard variety of wheat and has a high protein content. Both of these properties give more structure to pasta which provides that elusive 'al dente' quality to fresh pastas.

Is it better to cook pasta in milk or water? ›

But sauce isn't the only option you can turn to -- cooking your pasta in milk can give your dish a uniquely luscious, creamy texture. Mac and cheese is a prime example of a dish you can try this with, as the water-to-milk swap creates a more efficient cooking process with a richer sauce.

How to make pasta, sauce taste amazing? ›

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

What can I add to my pasta to make it taste better? ›

Fresh basil is the natural choice with simple pasta sauces like marinara, but parsley, cilantro, and even mint can also give pasta dishes a burst of fragrant flavor when they're sprinkled on just before serving.

What can I put in my noodles to make them taste better? ›

I'm talking simple sauces and condiments like:
  1. Miso paste.
  2. Chili bean sauce.
  3. Thai curry paste.
  4. Japanese curry powder.
  5. Fish sauce.
  6. Harissa.
  7. Vinegar.
  8. Ponzu.

Do you use half-and-half for pasta? ›

Yes, as a matter of fact, using half and half instead of heavy cream results in a sauce that is equally as thick and creamy. How do you thicken half and half for Alfredo? We've added a couple tablespoons of flour to this sauce recipe to make sure the sauce turns out equivalently thick and creamy using half and half.

Is it better to cook with heavy cream or half-and-half? ›

So, if you're cooking something forgiving like soup or mashed potatoes, heavy cream and half-and-half are virtually interchangeable in equal amounts, yes—both will give you that creamy texture we all love and crave. Just be mindful that heavy cream contains more fat, so it will taste much richer.

What is the best cream for cooking? ›

Double cream

This is the most versatile type of fresh cream, it can be used as it is or whipped. Double cream contains 48% fat. Uses: It can be used as a pouring cream over fruit and puddings, used in cooking or whipped and incorporated into dishes or served separately.

Is heavy cream or heavy whipping cream better for Alfredo? ›

Use heavy cream for pasta Alfredo sauce that's creamy and delicious. My family loves this quick and easy side dish with chicken!

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