Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Silky pasta tossed with melted butter, garlic, and sharp Parmesan—no cream needed. Pasta water does the heavy lifting to create a glossy, clinging sauce in under 15 minutes.
- Total time
- 12 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 485
- Protein
- 16g
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne or other short pasta
- 4 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
Instructions
- 1
Boil salted water in a large skillet, then add pasta and cook until al dente, ~10 minutes.
- 2
Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain pasta and set aside.
- 3
Melt butter over medium heat, add garlic, and cook until fragrant, ~60 seconds—don't let it brown.
- 4
Return pasta to the skillet, add Parmesan and 0.5 cup pasta water, then toss until sauce coats every strand.
- 5
Add more pasta water a splash at a time if the sauce looks dry—it should cling but not pool.
- 6
Season with salt and black pepper to taste, then serve immediately.
Tools you’ll need
- large skillet or pot
- wooden spoon or pasta fork
- measuring cup
- microplane or box grater
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