Name: Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta (One Pot Recipe)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 tsp olive oil; 4 cloves garlic (minced); 2 tbsp butter; ¼ tsp salt; ½ tsp pepper; 3 cups chicken stock; ½ lb linguini pasta; 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese; ¾ cup half & half; 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (or 2 tsp dried); 1 tsp chopped fresh basil (for garnish (optional))

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Creamy garlic Parmesan pasta is a quick 20 minute meal. With it’s super creamy consistency it features gourmet garlic-infused flavor, but comes together quickly and easily in a single pot on the stovetop. It’s a simple pasta dish that’s perfect for lunch or dinner!

In my little Italian American family we love garlic. Before meeting (& marrying) my husband, I would have been stingy about how much I added to a dish.

Now if it calls for a single clove? I laugh and use at least triple that amount.

The cardinal rule he taught me: you can never use too much garlic. No such thing. Just take 40 garlic clove chicken as an example. That stuff is so good it’s darn near a magical experience.

My husband eats the jarred stuff by the spoonful. While I can’t go quite that far myself, I really love the pungent stuff. I’m also equally obsessed with all things cheese.

Garlic and cheese both coming together in a single dish? Now that’s a beautiful thing. A true marriage of our favorite flavors.

You can be enjoying rich and creamy garlic infused pasta in a snap too, because it comes together easily using simple ingredients and is ready in just 20 minutes from start to finish!

Ingredients Needed

As I mentioned earlier, this recipe is super simple. Almost deceptively so, and the ingredient list is sweet & short.

Olive Oil – I prefer using extra virgin olive oil because it’s more flavorful, but regular olive oil will work just as well.
Butter – Salted butter
Garlic – You’ll need about 4 cloves, finely minced or pressed. As usual fresh is recommended for the best flavor, but you can use the jarred kind if that’s what you have on hand.
Stock – Chicken stock, or broth. You can use our homemade bone broth, or you can use the store bought variety.
Pasta – We like using linguini pasta in this recipe as the sauce seems to cling to it well and yield a good ratio of pasta to flavor; however, spaghetti or even angel hair pasta would make great substitutes.
Cheese – Grated Parmesan cheese. Make sure it’s real cheese.
Half & Half – To bring everything together with a smooth and creamy finish. Don’t substitute milk or heavy cream, as the first will be too thin and the later way too thick.
Herbs – Both fresh parsley and basil, for flavor plus a little extra for garnish- if desired.
Salt & Pepper – To taste

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients you’re ready to whip up this creamy, dreamy garlic infused creamy pasta!

How To Make Creamy Garlic Pasta

From start to finish this dish only takes about 20 minutes to whip up, making it a staple in my busy kitchen’s recipe rotation.

Start by setting a large pot on the stove top over medium low heat, then add in the olive oil.

You want the oil to heat up, but not get too hot. Olive oil has a lower smoke point than other cooking oils and it can go from hot to burnt quickly. The flavor is worth using it though if done right, but don’t add it and walk away.

Once the oil’s hot, you’ll know because it will develop a sheen, add in the garlic. Stir it and let it cook for 1-2 minutes, just so that it browns a bit and really becomes fragrant without burning. Add the butter and stir it in, just until melted.

At this point, pour in the chicken stock and stir again to combine everything. Season with a bit of salt & pepper, careful not to add too much. You can taste and adjust, as needed, before serving.

Raise the heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then add the pasta to the pot. Stir it well so that it’s all submerged and doesn’t clump together, and cook it according to the package directions for ‘al dente’.

There’s no right or wrong brand of pasta to use, and everyone has slightly varying directions. The one thing to keep in mind, is to stir frequently to prevent the pasta from sticking and clumping together.

As soon as the pasta’s reached the desired doneness, reduce the heat on the stove top back to medium low. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, and keep stirring until it’s completely melted and the sauce is smooth.

Remove the pot from heat, and stir in the half and half & fresh herbs.

You can season again here with salt & pepper, if you choose. We recommend tasting it first before adding any extra seasoning, but be careful since it will still be very hot.

Serve the pasta warm and feel free to top this creamy garlic pasta off with as little, or as much, extra Parmesan cheese as your taste buds desire. I won’t judge you.

Besides, if anyone ever tells you you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop speaking to them. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life.

Storing

Cooled leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

If the pasta has soaked up all of the sauce and gone dry, bring it back together in a pot on the stove by adding some half and half to it and stirring until rich, creamy, and heated through again.

Tips & Tricks

Use grated Parmesan cheese, not shredded. Fresh will melt most easily, but the pre-grated kind works too. Make sure it’s real cheese, and use a quality brand.
To bring everything together with a smooth and creamy finish, you need to use half & half in this recipe. Don’t substitute milk or heavy cream, as the first will be too thin and the later way too thick.
Want to make this a meal with protein? Add some leftover chopped rotisserie chicken!
Feeding a larger crowd? This recipe can easily be doubled to accommodate, or to have leftovers for hot lunches.

Other Creamy Pasta Dishes

Just 20 minutes is all you need to make this creamy garlic parmesan pasta. With minimal prep work and simple ingredients, it makes an easy entree or side dish for a busy weeknight meal!

Looking for other easy, creamy pasta dishes to enjoy?

Try these:

If you’ve tried these CREAMY GARLIC PARMESAN PASTA, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!