Garlic Parmesan Pasta (One Pot!) (2024)

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by Stephanie on December 3, 2020 (Updated September 27, 2021)315*This post may contain affiliate links. Read more »

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This creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta is easy to make at home in one pot! Angel hair pasta cooks in a flavorful buttery cream sauce in just 10 minutes. Pair this with chicken, steak, or shrimp for a delicious meal that your family will love!

Serve this with Chicken Piccata, Garlic Parmesan Pork Chops, or Garlic Butter Shrimp!

Garlic Parmesan Pasta

This recipe is a GEM in our house. Even my super picky four year old loves this pasta. (I mean what kid can really say no to buttery pasta noodles?)

If you’re looking for something great to pair this with, I recommend my chicken piccata or creamy lemon chicken for that!

What’s great about this meal is that it takes 20 minutes from beginning to end, prep work and all. Set a timer, I kid you not! Nothing beats a 30 minute meal (or less) that you can rely on.

How to Make it

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic, cook for one minute. Then add the chicken broth

Stir in the milk. Bring the liquid to a boil, then add the pasta.

You will eventually be able to twist the pasta into the pan as it heats up. Kitchen tongs work well for this.

Let the pasta cook for 4-5 minutes. Once the pasta is done, reduce heat to low. Add 1 tbsp butter and toss to coat. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese into the sauce and stir to combine. It will thicken upon standing.

The Trick to Extra Creamy Sauce

Purchase a block of high-quality Parmesan cheese. Always shred the cheese yourself, it will taste and melt much better. I use Belgioioso Parmesan cheese. Note that cheese that is very aged will not melt as well.
Turn off the heat before adding the cheese, if the base is too hot, the dairy will separate and you’ll have a grainy consistency instead of creamy.
Add the cheese gradually as opposed to all at once. Stir it continuously as it’s added.

Using Spaghetti Instead of Angel Hair

If you prefer to use regular spaghetti: Add an extra 1/2 cup of chicken broth, an extra 1/2 cup of milk, and up to 1/3 cup more cheese. You’ll need about 12-15 minutes of cooking time, refer to the package for guidance on how much time is needed to cook the pasta.

What to Serve with Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Creamy Garlic Shrimp
Chicken Piccata
Creamy Lemon Chicken
Chicken Florentine
Minced clams 1 or 2 (6.5 oz.) cans. Add them when you add the chicken broth.
Chicken Milanese
Grilled Chicken or Steak
Garlic Bread with Cheese
Roasted Broccoli

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
You can also freeze itand store it for up to 3 months.

Try These Next

: Beef Fried Rice

: Chicken Enchiladas

: Pasta Primavera

: Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

: Chicken and Orzo

: Garlic Parmesan Chicken

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Garlic Parmesan Pasta (One Pot!)

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

4.96 from 114 ratings

Servings: 4 people

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Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

▢ ½ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
▢ 3 Tablespoons butter, divided
▢ 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
▢ 2 cups chicken broth
▢ 1 cup milk
▢ 8 oz. angel hair pasta
▢ Fresh Parsley, to garnish

Optional seasonings: ¼ tsp of each: onion powder, oregano, thyme, parsley, pepper.

Instructions

Note: Angel hair cooks very quickly. Refer to the time on package and set a timer to avoid overcooking, as overcooked noodles become clumpy.
Grate the Parmesan cheese and set it aside to allow it to get to room temperature.
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large skillet.
Add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the chicken broth and optional seasoning mix. Slowly add the milk, stirring as you do so. Bring to a boil.
Add the pasta noodles. You can break them in half for a better fit, or allow them to heat and use kitchen tongs to twist them into the skillet as they soften.
Let the pasta simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure the noodles don't stick together. Reduce heat to low.
Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the warm pasta and toss to coat.
Gradually sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese, stirring as you do so, until smooth and well-combined. Note: The sauce will be thin at first but will thicken nicely upon standing. The pasta will continue to absorb more of the sauce as well.
Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with Garlic Bread with Cheese!

Notes

Pro Tips:

Make sure the liquid is boiling when the pasta is added for the right consistency.
The video shows this being made with half and half. I tend to use milk now, as the sauce ends up thickening up just a tad more than I would like with half and half, but I have successfully made it with either one! 🙂
Purchase a block of high-quality Parmesan cheese. Always shred the cheese yourself, it will taste and melt much better. I use Belgioioso Parmesan cheese. Note that cheese that is very aged will not melt as well.
Turn off the heat before adding the cheese, if the base is too hot, the dairy will separate and you'll have a grainy consistency instead of creamy.
Add the cheese gradually as opposed to all at once. Stir it continuously as it's added.
Adding Chicken: If you'd like to add chicken to this, try my Angel Hair Pasta with Chicken! It's like an amped up version of this recipe!

If you prefer to use regular spaghetti: Add an extra 1/2 cup of chicken broth, an extra 1/2 cup of milk, and up to 1/3 cup more cheese. You'll need about 12-15 minutes of cooking time, refer to the package for guidance on how much time is needed to cook the pasta.

Serve this with:

Lemon Pepper Chicken
Creamy Garlic Shrimp
Chicken Piccata
Creamy Lemon Chicken
Chicken Florentine
Garlic Bread with Cheese
Roasted Broccoli

Nutritional information is an estimate and is per serving. There are 4 servings in this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 382kcal, Carbohydrates: 47g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 37mg, Sodium: 735mg, Potassium: 327mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 461IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 244mg, Iron: 1mg

Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Author: Stephanie

30 Minute Meals Dinner Italian Meatless One Pot Our Favorite Recipes Pasta Popular

posted by Stephanie on December 3, 2020 — 315 Comments »

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315 comments on “Garlic Parmesan Pasta (One Pot!)”

Abbey — July 23, 2024 @ 2:30 am Reply

This pasta was FANTASTIC! My toddler loves pasta-roni and I found this recipe when I didn’t have any on hand and was looking for a recipe for something similar. This hit the nail on the head and was almost as easy as making it from a box—but tasted better! My 2 year old had seconds and thirds haha. It was a hit with the whole family, easy, quick, and budget friendly. I think I’ll be making this a lot!
- Stephanie — July 23, 2024 @ 7:49 am Reply
  
  I’m so happy your toddler loved it Abbey! I love how easy this one is. It also makes a great side dish or you can add your favorite protein to it. Very versatile! Thanks so much for the great comments!💕
Wendy Harley — July 4, 2024 @ 8:00 pm Reply

My husband and I make this pasta with all my chicken recipes. Chicken Piccata and tonight chicken parmigiana.
Hubby it the one that makes this pasta.
- Stephanie — July 4, 2024 @ 8:26 pm Reply
  
  I’m thrilled to hear that Wendy!!! Thank you so much!! 🩷🩷🩷
Isaac — July 2, 2024 @ 11:32 pm Reply

I just made this and MAN was it delicious!! The noodles did clump up the longer it sat on our plate as we ate it, and it became very dry. I guess that was the sauce thickening? Perhaps I will make more sauce next time or decrease the amount of angel hair…….or just eat it faster!
- Stephanie — July 3, 2024 @ 11:28 am Reply
  
  Hi Isaac! Maybe you could pull it from the heat just a tad sooner- since the noodles do continue to absorb the sauce upon standing! Angel hair cooks so quickly so the timing is more crucial. I’m so glad that you liked it!!
Debbie Jones — June 30, 2024 @ 7:21 pm Reply

Easy and delicious!
- Stephanie — June 30, 2024 @ 8:52 pm Reply
  
  Yayyy! Thanks Debbie!🩷
Sharon Nocero — June 29, 2024 @ 12:48 pm Reply

So easy and delicious. I made this using milk as suggested worked out to perfect consistency. Served with a side of mussels in garlic butter.
Everyone loved it, will definitely make again
- Stephanie — June 29, 2024 @ 1:18 pm Reply
  
  I’m so happy that you loved it Sharon! WOW- I love that you served this with a side of mussels, I actually think I am going to do the same thing ASAP, that is such a perfect pairing! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review!! 🙂 -Stephanie
Teresa Ferraguto — June 23, 2024 @ 6:09 pm Reply

Made this recipe according to the directions, and we loved it! I might stir in some anchovies next time. Definitely worth it, and very simple.
- Stephanie — June 23, 2024 @ 8:40 pm Reply
  
  I’m so happy it was a hit Teresa! Anchovies would actually be a cool addition! Thanks so much for the great review💕
Allison — June 14, 2024 @ 6:54 pm Reply

Totally our favorite “go to” on those nights when mom doesn’t want to cook!
- Stephanie — June 14, 2024 @ 7:52 pm Reply
  
  Yes! I’m right there with you. It’s a super easy one that doesn’t make a mess either. Thanks for the review Allison!💕