Straightforward Garlic Parmesan Pasta Recipe {Prepared in 20 Minutes}

There’s one thing so comforting a few huge bowl of creamy pasta, and this Garlic Parmesan Pasta hits all the correct notes. It’s wealthy, tacky, and loaded with garlicky goodness—mainly, every little thing you need if you’re craving a comfy, satisfying meal.


The most effective half? It’s made with easy components you in all probability have already got available. No fancy steps, no difficult sauces—only a few pantry staples coming collectively to create one thing downright scrumptious. It’s the type of dish you’ll be able to throw collectively on a busy weeknight however nonetheless really feel such as you’re consuming one thing particular.
This pasta takes me proper again to my early days of studying to cook dinner. I bear in mind standing in my tiny residence kitchen, flipping via a stack of handwritten recipes, making an attempt to recreate the type of comforting meals my mother used to make. Garlic Parmesan Pasta was one of many first dishes I actually nailed—easy sufficient to not be intimidating, however flavorful sufficient to make me really feel like I used to be doing one thing proper. Even now, in spite of everything these years, it’s nonetheless one in every of my go-to recipes once I want slightly style of residence.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy Components: Nothing fancy right here—simply pantry and fridge staples coming collectively in one of the best ways.
- Fast and Straightforward: Prepared in about 20 minutes, it’s excellent for busy weeknights if you want dinner on the desk quick.
- Extremely Creamy: The creamy garlic sauce is wealthy, velvety, and completely crave-worthy.
- Household-Pleasant: Even choosy eaters can’t resist this tacky, garlicky goodness.
- Versatile: Serve it as a primary dish or pair it with grilled rooster, shrimp, or a aspect of veggies to make it a full meal.
Components
The total printable recipe card with measurements and directions is discovered on the backside of the publish.
- Spaghetti: Use common spaghetti or swap in any pasta form you want—fettuccine or linguine work nice too.
- Unsalted Butter: Unsalted offers you higher management over the saltiness of the ultimate dish.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic cloves deliver the perfect taste—keep away from pre-minced garlic if attainable.
- All-Function Flour: Helps thicken the sauce right into a creamy consistency—don’t skip the step of cooking it briefly earlier than including milk.
- Milk: Complete milk offers the richest texture, however 2% works in a pinch.
- Parmesan Cheese: Grate your personal for the smoothest soften and greatest taste (pre-shredded may be clumpy).
- Salt: Regulate to style, particularly in case your Parmesan is on the salty aspect.
- Black Pepper: Provides slightly kick to stability the creamy richness.
- Recent Parsley: A sprinkle on high provides freshness and a pop of colour.


The right way to Make Garlic Parmesan Pasta
- Step One: Boil the pasta in accordance with the package deal instructions till it’s al dente. Drain and put aside.
- Step Two: In a big skillet, soften the butter over medium warmth. Add the minced garlic and cook dinner for 1–2 minutes till aromatic (don’t let it brown).
- Step Three: Whisk within the flour and cook dinner for about 1 minute to kind a paste. Slowly pour within the milk, whisking consistently to keep away from lumps. Warmth the pan to medium-high warmth and cook dinner till the sauce thickens barely, about 5 minutes.
- Step 4: Decrease to medium warmth. Stir within the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Proceed stirring till the cheese has melted right into a clean sauce.
- Step 5: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat within the sauce. Let it warmth via for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Step Six: Garnish with recent parsley and extra Parmesan, if desired. Serve sizzling and revel in!


What to Serve With It
- Grilled or Baked Rooster: Provides a lift of protein and balances the richness of the sauce.
- Sautéed Shrimp: Fast-cooking and filled with taste, shrimp pairs fantastically with garlic and Parmesan.
- Crisp Inexperienced Salad: A lightweight, recent salad with a tangy French dressing helps minimize via the creaminess.
- Steamed or Roasted Greens: Strive broccoli, asparagus, or inexperienced beans for a colourful aspect.
- Garlic Bread or Breadsticks: As a result of there’s no such factor as an excessive amount of garlic or carbs, proper?


Variations and Substitutions
- Add Protein: Stir in cooked rooster, shrimp, and even crispy bacon to make it extra filling.
- Use a Totally different Cheese: Swap out Parmesan for Asiago, Romano, or a mixture for a barely completely different taste profile.
- Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of pink pepper flakes or a touch of sizzling sauce for a bit of warmth.
- Lighter Model: Use low-fat milk and cut back the quantity of butter and cheese to lighten issues up a bit.
- Creamier Sauce: Add a splash of heavy cream or a spoonful of cream cheese to make the sauce additional wealthy.
- Toss in Veggies: Strive including spinach, mushrooms, peas, or roasted cherry tomatoes for a pop of colour and taste.
- Herb Garnish: Sprinkle recent parsley, basil, oregano, or thyme on high to brighten up the dish.


Storage Directions
- Refrigerate: Switch any cooled leftovers to an hermetic container and retailer within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
- Reheat: Heat gently on the stovetop over low warmth or within the microwave. Add a splash of milk to loosen up the sauce if it’s too thick.
- Freezing Not Beneficial: Due to the creamy sauce, this dish doesn’t freeze effectively—it could actually separate and change into grainy when reheated. It’s greatest loved recent or inside a number of days.
Recipe Suggestions and Tips
- Cook dinner Pasta Al Dente: Barely agency pasta holds up higher when combined into the sauce, conserving it from turning mushy.
- Don’t Brown the Garlic: Keep watch over the garlic—it must be aromatic however not browned, or it could actually style bitter.
- Whisk Continuously: When including the milk to the roux, whisk repeatedly to keep away from lumps and get that clean, creamy texture.
- Use Freshly Grated Parmesan: It melts higher than pre-shredded and offers the sauce a smoother end.
- Regulate Seasoning to Style: Parmesan may be salty, so give the sauce a fast style earlier than including additional salt.
- Serve Instantly: This pasta is greatest served sizzling and recent whereas the sauce is at its creamiest.


How Is This Recipe Totally different From Alfredo?
At first look, this Garlic Parmesan Pasta would possibly remind you of Alfredo—however there are a number of key variations that set it aside.
Conventional Alfredo sauce is made with simply butter, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese—no flour, no milk. It’s ultra-rich, clean, and indulgent. This recipe, however, begins with a roux (a mixture of butter and flour) and makes use of milk as a substitute of cream. Which means it’s a bit lighter, barely thicker, and makes use of components you in all probability have already got in your kitchen.
Taste-wise, each are tacky and garlicky, however this model has a extra mellow, creamy really feel because of the milk and mild thickening from the roux. It’s an important different if you need that Alfredo vibe with out all of the heaviness.
Pasta Recipes
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Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Creamy, garlicky, and full of Parmesan, this straightforward Garlic Parmesan Pasta is a fast weeknight dinner made with easy pantry staples—prepared in simply 20 minutes!
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Cook dinner the pasta in accordance with package deal instructions till al dente. Drain and put aside.
-
In a big skillet, soften the butter over medium warmth. Add the minced garlic and cook dinner for 1–2 minutes till aromatic (don’t let it brown).
-
Whisk within the flour and cook dinner for about 1 minute to kind a paste. Slowly pour within the milk, whisking consistently to keep away from lumps. Warmth to medium-high warmth and cook dinner till the sauce thickens barely, about 5 minutes.
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Decrease to medium warmth. Stir within the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Hold stirring till the cheese melts right into a clean sauce.
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Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat within the sauce. Let it warmth via for 1–2 minutes.
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Garnish with recent parsley and extra Parmesan, if desired. Serve sizzling and revel in!
Store the really helpful merchandise
Plus browse all of my favourite merchandise I exploit to create straightforward on a regular basis recipes!
Energy: 456kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 18g | Fats: 19g | Saturated Fats: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 4g | Trans Fats: 0.3g | Ldl cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 670mg | Potassium: 364mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 623IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 337mg | Iron: 1mg
The knowledge proven is an estimate offered by an internet diet calculator. It shouldn’t be thought of an alternative to an expert nutritionist’s recommendation.
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