Description
Creamy garlic pasta whisks classic Italian comfort into a lightning-fast culinary experience that delights busy home cooks. Rich parmesan, silky sauce, and aromatic garlic combine in mere minutes, ensuring you can savor restaurant-quality magic without complex preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) spaghetti or fettuccine
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Pasta Seasonings:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Cooking Components:
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter
- 2 tablespoons (8 grams) chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water until perfectly tender, around 8-9 minutes. Carefully extract 1/2 cup starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Warm a spacious skillet over medium heat, gently melting butter until it becomes silky and fragrant.
- Introduce minced garlic into the butter, stirring continuously for approximately 60-90 seconds until aromatically developed and golden-edged.
- Stream heavy cream into the skillet, allowing mixture to softly bubble and slightly thicken while maintaining gentle heat.
- Gradually incorporate Parmesan cheese, whisking smoothly to create a luxurious, velvety sauce. Season with salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes for subtle heat.
- Introduce cooked pasta directly into the creamy sauce, delicately folding to ensure complete coating. Adjust sauce consistency by introducing reserved pasta water, creating a glossy, clingy texture.
- Transfer to serving plates immediately, sprinkling freshly chopped parsley across the top for a vibrant, herbaceous finish.
Notes
- Save some pasta water before draining to help create a silky, clingy sauce that perfectly coats every noodle.
- Adjust the sauce’s thickness by gradually adding reserved pasta water, which contains starch that helps bind ingredients smoothly.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream, knowing the sauce will be less rich but still creamy.
- Enhance protein content by adding grilled chicken, sautéed shrimp, or crispy pancetta for a more substantial meal that transforms this simple pasta into a complete dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 910 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 67 g
- Saturated Fat: 39 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 59 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg