Description

This One Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta is a quick, comforting meal perfect for busy weeknights. Made with simple pantry ingredients, it combines tender pasta with a rich, garlicky Parmesan sauce, all cooked together in a single pot for minimal cleanup. Optional cream cheese or sour cream adds extra creaminess, while fresh herbs provide a vibrant finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

8 oz pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or penne)
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)
¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Optional Ingredients

2 tablespoons cream cheese or sour cream (for extra creaminess)
Chopped parsley or basil (for garnish)

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 prevent burning.
Add Pasta & Liquid: Pour in the dry pasta, milk, and enough water to just barely cover the pasta. Stir everything to combine, then bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
Cook the Pasta: Lower the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for 8–10 minutes, stirring frequently. Cook until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has reduced to form a creamy sauce.
Stir in Cheese & Seasoning: Add the freshly grated Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir thoroughly until the cheese melts and the sauce thickens. For extra creaminess, fold in cream cheese or sour cream at this point.
Serve: Garnish with chopped parsley or basil if desired and serve immediately while hot for the best flavor and texture.

Notes

You can use any short or long pasta you prefer, but adjust cooking time slightly if needed.
Whole milk gives the creamiest result, but you can substitute with lower fat options or non-dairy milk.
If the sauce gets too thick, add a little more milk or water to loosen it up.
For a richer flavor, use fresh garlic over pre-minced garlic.
Leftovers can be refrigerated and gently reheated with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: One Pot Cooking, Sautéing, Simmering
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 350
Sugar: 4g
Sodium: 450mg
Fat: 12g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 15g
Cholesterol: 30mg

Keywords: One pot pasta, creamy garlic pasta, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, Parmesan pasta, weeknight meals