Description
Delightful Creamy Garlic Pasta delivers pure comfort with Italian-inspired flavors. Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs elevate this simple yet elegant dish you’ll crave repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (226 g) pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream (or half & half)
- ¾ cup (75 g) Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tbsps (28 g) unsalted butter
- ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a vigorous boil. Cook pasta until perfectly al dente, following package instructions precisely.
- Skillet Foundation: Melt butter in a spacious skillet over medium heat, developing a light golden color. Introduce minced garlic, stirring until fragrant and translucent, releasing its aromatic essence.
- Sauce Creation: Pour heavy cream and milk into the skillet, whisking in Parmesan cheese to create a velvety smooth base. Enhance with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes, allowing the mixture to simmer and thicken for 3-4 minutes.
- Pasta Integration: Carefully transfer cooked pasta directly into the creamy sauce, using tongs to ensure comprehensive coating. Adjust sauce consistency by incorporating reserved pasta water if needed.
- Final Flourish: Elevate the dish by sprinkling freshly chopped parsley and an additional layer of Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, ensuring maximum flavor and temperature are preserved.
Notes
- Adjust Pasta Texture: Cook pasta just shy of package instructions to maintain perfect al dente consistency, preventing mushiness when combined with creamy sauce.
- Control Sauce Thickness: Gradually add reserved pasta water to customize sauce viscosity, ensuring smooth, clingy coating without becoming too runny or overly thick.
- Prevent Garlic Burning: Sauté garlic quickly over medium heat, stirring constantly to release flavor without scorching, which creates bitter undertones and ruins sauce quality.
- Enhance Dietary Adaptability: Substitute heavy cream with lighter alternatives like half-and-half or plant-based cream for lower-fat versions; use gluten-free pasta for celiac-friendly option.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 442
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 285 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg