Creamy Pasta is an easy no-fuss, no-muss, one-pot pasta entrée that the whole family will love. Butter, whipping cream, parmesan, and garlic are all it takes to bring this creamy garlic pasta dish to life!
We love serving it as a main dish with pizza dough breadsticks or turning into a delicious base for our favorite shrimp boil foil packets. However you choose to serve it, it is sure to be a hit, especially the leftovers!
One Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta
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What Pasta To Use
The general rule of thumb is the heavier the sauce, the heavier the pasta! To pick the right kind of pasta for the sauce, follow these general rules.
- A tomato-based sauce like a marinara would be paired with penne, ziti, rotini, or a thick, spaghetti noodle.
- Lighter, creamier sauces like Alfredo, Garlic, or any other creamy pasta sauces call for angel hair (or capellini), thin linguine and or even egg noodles.
For this creamy garlic parmesan pasta, we recommend angel hair because the sauce is light and flavorful and when combined with the other ingredients, the sauce can flow evenly around the pasta and the veggies!
But when it comes to cooking, rules are made to be broken! So have fun with it and make whatever is on hand!
How to Make It
Who doesn’t love a good creamy pasta be it alfredo or even chicken stuffed shells! This Creamy Garlic Pasta is so simple to make and only requires one pot! Fewer dishes for the win, am I right?
- Cook garlic in butter in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook until done. Lower the heat until the broth is cooked down and most of the broth has evaporated.
- Remove from heat, add remaining ingredients, stirring constantly until the cheese is fully melted.
Save some cheese for garnish when you serve this dish and don’t forget the fresh parsley! Not only is it visually pleasing, but it also adds to the flavor. The serve directly from the pot! How perfect is that?
Let your inner chef out to play when you ask yourself, “What Can I Add“?
- Vegetables: Any kind of vegetables like broccoli florets, mushrooms, chopped bell peppers, chopped kale or spinach are great add-ins.
- Meats: Try shrimp, scallops, sausage, shredded chicken or even tuna!
Why not make the basic recipe and then set steamed veggies or meat in small bowls so your guests can choose their own Creamy Pasta?
What to Serve with Creamy Pasta
As always, nothing goes better with pasta than bread, right? Hot cheesy breadsticks are perfect for sopping up the leftover sauce. A bright strawberry spinach salad with a tangy vinaigrette will serve as a palate cleanser from the creamy pasta sauce.
For dessert, anything chocolate (truffles, anyone)? For the grown-ups, a chilled white wine like a Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, or even a citrus wine spritzer is a great choice!
Other Delicious Creamy Recipes!
Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Casserole – Dinner in under an hour!
Creamy Tuscan Chicken – Tasty, creamy main dish!
Creamy Garlic Chicken Marsala – Cream and garlic!
Creamy One Pot Pasta recipe! – One Pot, need I say more?
Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Shells recipe – A family favorite
Tomato Cream Sauce Pasta with Grilled Chicken recipe – Easy Dinner!
One Pot Creamy Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound angel hair pasta
- 3 14.5 ounce cans chicken broth
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream not to be confused with whipped topping for desserts
- ½ cup parmesan grated
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp garlic minced
- parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Melt butter in large pot over medium heat.
- When butter is melted, add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add chicken broth to the pot and bring to a boil.
- Once chicken broth is boiling, add angel hair pasta.
- Cook pasta until done then lower heat and let simmer until most of the broth has evaporated.
- Turn heat off and add whipping cream and parmesan cheese.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve.
Nutrition
Recipe inspired by The Cheese Pusher
Paul says
I added 2 tablespoons of garlic one and a 1/2 cups of cheese
It is very good I give it 8 stars
CentsLess Meals C says
So glad you loved it! More cheese sounds delish Paul!
Peyton says
How many does it serve?
Centsless Meals SN says
As a main dish, it serves about 4 people Peyton.
Nicole says
WOW!! This was fantastic!! I had doubts about it with the whipping cream but holy smokes. Will make again!
Centsless Meals SN says
Yay! That is great to hear Nicole!
Candace @ Our Zesty Life says
Made this for dinner last night and it was a huge hit for all of us! Easy and so flavorful. Loved it and we will make it again for sure!
Regin Hilgart says
Love this recipe! It is a favorite at my house. I add cream cheese to it sometimes to create a richer sauce. Pair it with Lemon chicken, your family will beg you to make it all the time! 😉
Sarah says
Would it still be good without the cheese?
Deanna Mott says
Made this tonight, my super picky 12year old loved it. I made it exactly as outlook Ned, next time I may add more garlic, couldn’t really taste it much. This would also be great with some chicken tossed in.
Super yummy, easy recipe. Will be making this again soon! Thanks for sharing.
Aly says
This looks yummy! I would like to make this, however I have never used canned chicken broth,. Is it concentrated chicken broth (that you would have to mix with water) or normal chicken broth? Thank you!
laura dunn says
Help! This is o e of my favorite recipes but can’t see the directions and ingredients. Could you please send it to me?
Lori says
added about 2 T of garlic, used about 30 oz of sodium free chicken broth in the box. (My biggest pan could not hold 3 14.5 oz cans). and used less pasta. SOOOO good. I made chicken and mushrooms in another pan and added after the parm and cream. Delicious. Thank you
Michele says
I have made this quite a few times! I do add more garlic, use fat free half and half and add shrimp.
Amanda says
I add chicken and bacon to it for some protein.. Awesome!!!
Amanda says
This is mouth watering!! My husband loves it!!
Tammy says
Sounds really good! Though with only 1 tsp of garlic in it, not sure why it has garlic in the name. Think I’ll add more garlic (maybe fresh minced) and maybe some red pepper flakes. 🙂
Alma Andrews says
I added more garlic and red pepper flakes. Yum yum. Thanks.
RoseAnne says
To reduce the sodium, use either low sodium or no sodium chicken broth and try seasonings which do not have salt in them or a salt substitute.
Cyndi says
Can you substitute something for the heavy cream?
Candice says
My daughter made this for dinner tonight and added broccoli and grilled chicken. Delicious!
Felicia says
So easy – trying this one during the weekend! Thanks!
tanya says
Delicious! Added mushrooms. Next time I will also add bacon.
Hlk says
How would it be if you added chicken ?
JW says
This was great! So easy too. I left out some of the whipping cream because after pouring 1/2 of it in, it seemed like enough.
Next time I will try some grilled chicken with it!
Ryan says
I made this last night.. It was GREAT. I used Rigatoni. I added Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes and some italian Seasoning, it was Amazing. This will become a twice a month recipe for me now..
Lynn says
I made this tonight. My family LOVED it!!! Thanks for the recipe!!
Kim S says
Do you have the carb and sodium count on this recipe?
I need a kidney friendly version if there is one.
Thanks.
It looks amazingly yummy by the way!!
LeAnn @ Real Fit, Real Food Mom says
This looks awesome! Can’t wait to try soon!
crystal ca says
LOVE THIS ONE!