This rich and creamy garlic pasta is a simple yet impressive dish that comes together in only 20 minutes. Al dente pasta is smothered in a buttery garlic cream sauce, giving you the perfect comfort dish that will leave you satisfied. It’s a great dish when you’re short on time and is sure to become a family favorite in no time.  

Creamy Garlic Pasta Ingredients 

You’ll need:

• 4 tablespoons of salted butter
• 1 8-ounce block of cream cheese, softened and cut into chunks
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 heaping teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup water
• 1 chicken bouillon cube
• 8 ounces shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 16-ounce box penne pasta
• ½ teaspoon salt, for pasta water

Substitutions and Additions 

CHICKEN: Add shredded or sliced chicken if you’d like more protein in this dish. Stir in 2 cooked chicken breasts as the last step of the recipe. 

LEMON: Lemon juice can add a lovely fresh burst of flavor to this recipe. Stir in the juice of 1 lemon to the sauce along with the chicken broth. 

PASTA: Penne is our go-to pasta shape for this recipe, but any medium-sized pasta shape or flat pasta like fettuccine works well, too.  

How to Make This Creamy Garlic Pasta Recipe

STEP 1: Cook the penne pasta in a large pot per package directions, making sure to add 1⁄2 tsp of salt to the water. Once done, drain the pasta and put it back into the pot.

PRO TIP: Consider reserving some of the pasta water. If you find the sauce is too thick at the end of cooking, slowly add small amounts of pasta water until you reach the desired consistency. 

STEP 2: While the pasta cooks, add 1 cup of water to a small bowl, then drop in the bouillon cube. Put it in the microwave for 2 minutes on high heat, then remove it and set aside. Be careful when touching the bowl, as the edges will be hot. 

STEP 3: Melt butter in a large saucepan over low to medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add chunks of cream cheese, minced garlic, garlic powder, dried parsley flakes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Whisk together. 

STEP 4: Add chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, and parmesan cheese. Whisk together and turn the heat to medium, bringing the pan to a low boil. 

PRO TIP: Dairy can burn easily on the stove. Don’t rush bringing the sauce to a boil; keep the heat no higher than medium. 

PRO TIP: The sauce at this point will be somewhat lumpy, but it will smooth out when it’s done cooking.

STEP 5: Add 5 tablespoons of sauce and 1 tablespoon of flour in a small bowl, then mix well with a spoon. Add the flour to the sauce mixture and whisk well.

STEP 6: Allow the sauce to simmer for about 5 minutes, continuing to whisk frequently.

STEP 7: Once the sauce is done, pour it over the noodles, stir well, and serve.

How To Serve 

Serve this wonderfully creamy garlic pasta with Caesar salad, fresh rolls, and garlic bread for a flavorful meal.

Storage 

IN THE FRIDGE: If you have leftovers (we usually don’t!), allow them to fully cool, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

IN THE FREEZER: If you plan on freezing this dish, we recommend undercooking the noodles slightly, so they don’t become mushy when they defrost. Once cooled, place them in a freezer-safe container and store them in the freezer for up to three months. 

REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS: To reheat from frozen, thaw it in the fridge overnight, then reheat it in a pan on the stovetop. You can also microwave individual servings in the microwave. 

This deliciously rich and creamy garlic pasta is the perfect dish when you’re craving something warm and comforting. It’s a quick and easy meal for a busy weeknight or whenever you want a flavorful bowl of creamy pasta.  

FAQ:

Q? What’s a substitute for whipping cream?

A: Instead of whipping cream, you can use a lower percentage of cream or milk. Your pasta will still end up creamy and rich. 

Q? Can I freeze this recipe?

A: If you plan on freezing this recipe, undercook the noodles slightly, so they don’t get soggy when you thaw them. I don’t recommend freezing the pasta if you’ve cooked the noodles al dente as they will be mushy when thawed. 

Q? What do I serve with creamy garlic pasta?

A: This dish is great served with garlic bread, fresh rolls, and Caesar salad. You can also add chicken, salmon, or shrimp to the pasta for extra protein. 

Print

Creamy Garlic Pasta

This simple 20-minute creamy garlic pasta is rich, delicious, and so impressive!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword Creamy Garlic Pasta Recipe

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 5

Ingredients

• 16 ounces penne pasta 1 box
• ½ teaspoon salt for the pasta water
• 1 chicken bouillon cube
• 1 cup water
• 4 ounces salted butter
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened and cut into chunks
• 1 heaping teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 8 ounces parmesan cheese shredded
• 1 tablespoon flour

Instructions

• Cook penne pasta in a large pot per package directions, making sure to add ½ teaspoon of salt to the water (cook time is about 14 minutes). Once done, drain the pasta and put it back in the large pot.
• In a small bowl, add 1 cup of water. Drop in the bouillon cube. Put in the microwave for 2 minutes on high heat. Be careful, the edges of the bowl will be hot. Set aside.
• In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once the butter is melted, add the chunks of cream cheese, minced garlic, garlic powder, dried parsley flakes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Whisk together.
• Add the chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, and parmesan cheese. Whisk together and turn heat to medium, to a low boil.
• In a small bowl, add 5 tablespoons of sauce and 1 tablespoon of flour. Mix well with a spoon. Add the flour and sauce mixture back to the pan and whisk well.
• Let the sauce simmer for about 5 minutes, continue to whisk frequently while simmering.
• Once the sauce is done pour over the noodles, stir well, and serve.

Notes

Most brands of penne pasta cook for about 14 minutes.

To help make your sauce extra creamy, allow your parmesan cheese to come to room temperature before adding it to the sauce.

Adding the flour will help to thicken up the sauce to the perfect texture.
Sauce will be lumpy while cooking, but will smooth out towards the end!

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