One-Pan Garlic Pasta
This creamy one-pan garlic pasta is a cozy, family-favorite dinner made with fresh garlic, tender pasta, heavy cream, butter, and Parmesan, all cooked together in one skillet for the ultimate easy weeknight meal.
Servings 4
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 12 ounces dry pasta small shells, rotini, or ditalini
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Add the dry pasta to the skillet and stir to coat it in the garlic oil.
- Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 10–12 minutes.
- Stir in the heavy cream and continue cooking for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Remove from heat and stir in the butter until melted and glossy.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
For extra protein, add cooked chicken or shrimp before stirring in the cream.
If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of broth or cream to loosen it.
Freshly grated Parmesan melts best and creates the smoothest sauce.