A creamy decadent pasta side dish that pairs well with just about anything you can cook up; steak, pork chops, ribs, fish, chicken. You name it and this rich creamy side will elevate an ordinary meal into something decadent.
I’ve been making this pasta side dish for years. It’s a nice change from potatoes or rice. It’s as easy to cook up as the packaged products you can find on the grocery store shelves. Because you use all wholesome ingredients that you probably have on hand most of the time, it’s not only simple and convenient to make, it’s actually better for you even though it uses butter and cream. No preservatives or ingredients you can’t pronounce, and it cooks up in under 15 minutes. That makes this pasta the perfect side.
Ready to indulge in a creamy, rich, cheesy pasta? Lets do this already!
Assemble all the ingredients so you have everything ready to go when you begin cooking.
In a saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Once oil is hot add minced garlic cloves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add butter and stir until melted and combined with the oil and garlic.
Add the garlic powder, salt, pepper and chicken stock.
Raise the heat to high and let it come to a boil.
Once it is at a rolling boil, break pasta into thirds and drop into the pot. Stir pasta to keep it from sticking together. Cook for as long as the box’s directions indicate, 6-7 minutes.
Pasta will soak up a lot of the liquid in the pan, this is normal.
Once pasta is cooked al dente, reduce heat to medium and mix in the parmesan cheese until it’s completely melted.
Once cheese is melted, turn off the heat and stir in the cream.
You can use half and half, heavy cream or whole milk in this recipe, all will produce a rich creamy sauce. This recipe is very forgiving, just use whatever you happen to have in the fridge.
Keep stirring until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Top with freshly chopped parsley if desired. Sauce will thicken upon standing. Best if served immediately.
Creamy Garlic Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 3 cups chicken broth
- ½ lb thin spaghetti pasta
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ¾ cup half and half
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
- In a large sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add butter and continue to cook until melted, stir to combine.
- Add garlic powder, salt, pepper and chicken stock.
- Increase heat to high and bring mixture to a boil.
- Break thin spaghetti pasta into thirds.
- Once chicken broth mixture is at a rolling boil, add the pasta and cook for as long as the box’s directions indicate, 6-7 miniutes.
- Once pasta is cooked al dente, reduce heat to medium and mix in the parmesan cheese. Stir until completely melted.
- Once cheese is melted, remove saucepan from heat and stir in half & half stirring well to combine.
- Top with freshly chopped parsley. Serve immediately. Sauce with thicken upon standing.
Yes the recipe says it makes six servings, but in all honesty, the three of us polished this off with no problems what so ever. My son was actually scraping the pan to get every last bit on his plate.
This pasta pairs perfectly with my favorite Parmesan chicken recipe.
If you make this Creamy Garlic Pasta, don’t forget to comment and leave a review, or tag me on Instagram so I can see it!
You must give this recipe a try! You are going to love it!