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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Mains Pasta Recipes

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 to put in pasta to make it taste better? ›

Simply add a tablespoon of olive oil to the boiling water before adding the pasta. In addition, you can also try tossing the cooked pasta with a sauce made with fresh ingredients, such as garlic, olive oil, fresh basil, or crushed tomatoes. This can help to bring out the flavor of the pasta and make it more satisfying.

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.

How to jazz up pasta? ›

Fresh or dried herbs will also add flavor to pasta dishes.

"I use a lot of parsley, either fresh or even dried," Montillo said. "Oregano, garlic powder, onion flakes, black pepper all work well in a variety of sauces."

What to season pasta with? ›

These delicious flavorings will bring beneficial plant compounds to your meal.
  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

What is the one ingredient that makes spaghetti sauce so much better? ›

Butter works because it adds body to the sauce, making it feel more luxurious and creamy. The flavor is subtle and balances the natural acidity of the tomatoes. Butter can turn any store-bought pasta sauce into something a little more special.

What can I add to store-bought pasta sauce to make it taste better? ›

A few tablespoons of leftover wine, a splash of balsamic vinegar, or even a few drops of lemon juice can really brighten the sauce. This is especially true with jarred Alfredo or pesto which both benefit from a squeeze of lemon.

What can I use instead of tomato sauce for pasta? ›

More Tomato Sauce Substitutes: Ketchup and Tomato Soup

Add spices to tweak the flavor as needed. A bit of basil is a good choice. Tomato Soup: Add a 10 3/4-ounce can of tomato soup. Then, cut one of the wet ingredients in the recipe back by 1/4 cup to account for the extra liquid.

Should I add butter to pasta? ›

A small amount of fat—extra-virgin olive oil or butter—is essential to good pasta sauce texture. Without fat, you have at best watery sauce (nobody has ever said, "Waiter, my pasta is not quite wet enough"), and at worst sauce that over-thickens with starch alone and takes on a pasty texture.

What is a healthy substitute for pasta sauce? ›

You can try making homemade marinara sauce using tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs. Pesto sauce made with basil, pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan cheese is another excellent option. Creamy Alfredo sauce using butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese is also a popular choice.

How to make pasta extra tasty? ›

Depending on how bare your cupboard is, I have done a few things.
  1. Boil with a garlic clove and salt. The garlic adds a bit of flavor and then I remove it, mash it and re-add it to the pasta.
  2. Olive oil or butter and herbs. ...
  3. Butter, eggs, and cheese. ...
  4. Fried eggs and cheese. ...
  5. Tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, garlic, herbs.
Nov 4, 2018

What can you add to pasta that is unique? ›

Now's the time to get really creative with your pasta. Add in some chopped olives or jarred tapenade, quartered artichoke hearts, or sun-dried tomatoes in oil, capers, sliced pickled chiles or roasted red peppers, drained canned tuna or other tinned seafood.

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.

When should I add seasoning to pasta? ›

It's necessary that you salt the water before adding the pasta so that the pasta can absorb the salted water while cooking and retain flavor. A little salt in the pasta water can go a long way, adding flavor to your final dish. Once the pasta is cooked, you have lost your chance to season the pasta.

How to make bland pasta taste better? ›

How To Make Bland Pasta Better
  1. Add salt. Well, duh. ...
  2. Grate lots of Parmesan or Pecorino into a bowl. I say into a bowl because if you do it directly over the pasta, it'll quickly melt and you'll forget how much you added. ...
  3. Grind some pepper over it.
  4. Sprinkle some red pepper flakes over it.
  5. Give it a drizzle of olive oil.
Jul 23, 2007

What are 4 typical herbs used in pasta dishes? ›

Stock These 4 Herbs For Delicious Italian Cooking
  • Basil. ...
  • Rosemary. ...
  • Oregano. ...
  • Thyme. ...
  • Authentica Kitchen Tip: the flavour of dried herbs takes time to release so it's recommended to almost always add them during the cooking process, not after.

How can I make my pasta tasty? ›

How can you make pasta taste better?
  1. I mixed water with olive oil, salt, and black pepper into the pan. ...
  2. Once it reached boiling point, I added the penne pasta and let it cook for 20 minutes. ...
  3. I pour the water down the drain, then added precooked chicken along side spaghetti sauce and I stir for about 2 minutes.
Sep 12, 2021

How do you make the best tasting pasta? ›

Directions
  1. Only partially cook dry pasta. In a pot of abundantly salted boiling water, cook dry pasta for only half or three-quarters of the recommended time. ...
  2. Add the semi-cooked pasta to a pan sauce. ...
  3. Adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding the reserved water.

How to make pasta sauce taste great? ›

13 Ways to Make Any Jarred Pasta Sauce Better
  1. Start with the right pasta and sauce. ...
  2. Season with dried herbs. ...
  3. Or flavor with fresh herb sprigs. ...
  4. Double up on tomato goodness. ...
  5. Add more garlic and/or onions. ...
  6. Sweeten and thicken with squash purée. ...
  7. Punch things up with a pinch of chili flakes. ...
  8. Try this secret ingredient.
Dec 9, 2022

What to add to bland noodles? ›

Herbs and Black Pepper: Fresh parsley or basil are excellent for finishing your buttered noodles, but they are optional. I also love to add a sprinkle of black pepper for extra flavor.

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