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One-Pot Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta

This garlic Parmesan pasta is creamy, buttery, and full of fresh garlic flavor. It comes together quickly with pasta, Parmesan, butter, cream, and pasta water for an easy dinner or side dish.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 540
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces fettuccine linguine, spaghetti, or penne
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water plus more as needed
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley optional
  • Extra Parmesan for serving
  • Lemon wedge optional for serving

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions.
  3. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain the pasta.
  4. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
  5. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 to 60 seconds, stirring often, until fragrant.
  6. Pour in heavy cream and warm gently for 1 to 2 minutes. Do not boil hard.
  7. Reduce heat to low and add Parmesan a little at a time, stirring until melted.
  8. Add 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and stir until the sauce looks smooth.
  9. Add drained pasta and toss until coated.
  10. Add more pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
  11. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  12. Garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan if desired. Serve warm with a small squeeze of lemon if using.

Notes

  • Freshly grated Parmesan melts better than pre-shredded cheese.
  • Keep the heat low after adding Parmesan to prevent grainy sauce.
  • Save pasta water before draining the pasta.
  • Serve immediately for the creamiest texture.
  • Reheat leftovers gently with a splash of milk, cream, broth, or water.
Nutrition Per Serving – Approximate
Calories: 540
Protein: 18g
Fat: 30g
Carbs: 52g