One Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta (Just 20 Minutes!) Recipe
A quick and delicious one-pot creamy garlic pasta recipe ready in just 20 minutes. This easy dish combines tender pasta with a rich, garlicky Parmesan sauce, perfect for a comforting weeknight meal with minimal cleanup.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pot Cooking, Sautéing, Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or penne)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Wet Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 cups milk (whole preferred, or any you have)
- 1 cup water (or as needed to just cover the pasta)
- Optional: 2 tablespoons cream cheese or sour cream (for extra creaminess)
Garnish
- Chopped parsley or basil
Instructions
- Sauté Garlic: In a large pot or deep skillet, melt the butter or heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
- Add Pasta & Liquid: Pour in the dry pasta, then add the milk and enough water to just barely cover the pasta. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Cook the Pasta: Reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered, stirring frequently, for 8–10 minutes or until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has reduced to a creamy sauce.
- Stir in Cheese & Seasoning: Add the Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens. For an extra creamy texture, mix in the cream cheese or sour cream at this stage.
- Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley or basil and serve immediately while hot for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- You can substitute whole milk with any milk of your choice, including plant-based options, but whole milk yields the creamiest sauce.
- Adjust the salt according to your taste, especially if your Parmesan cheese is already salty.
- Stir frequently during cooking to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Add a little more water if the pasta absorbs too quickly before it is fully cooked.
- For a richer flavor, feel free to add a tablespoon of cream cheese or sour cream as suggested.
- Use fresh garlic for the best aroma and flavor; garlic powder can be used in a pinch but will alter the taste slightly.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the pasta with gluten-free pasta.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
Keywords: One pot pasta, creamy garlic pasta, easy pasta recipe, quick dinner, vegetarian pasta, garlic Parmesan pasta
