Creamy Dinner Pasta (Printable)
A rich, velvety pasta dish with garlic and parmesan, perfect for a cozy evening meal ready in thirty minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz penne or fettuccine
→ Sauce
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 cup heavy cream
07 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 1/4 cup vegetable broth or pasta cooking water
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
11 - 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
→ Garnish
12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
13 - Extra grated Parmesan
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain.
02 - Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until soft and translucent.
03 - Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low and stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the vegetable broth or reserved pasta water to thin the sauce slightly, if needed.
05 - Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly in the sauce. Cook for 1–2 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- It comes together faster than takeout, which means you can actually relax before dinner instead of stressing over timing.
- The sauce is silky without being fussy, and it tastes like you spent way more effort than you actually did.
02 -
- Save a quarter cup of pasta water before you drain it, because that starchy liquid is what makes the difference between a glossy sauce and a greasy one.
- Never let the cream boil at a rolling boil or it can break and separate, so keep your heat gentle and your attention on the pan.
03 -
- Fresh Parmesan makes all the difference, so invest in a small wedge and grate it yourself right before you need it.
- Keep the heat low and the motion gentle once the cream is in the pan, because patience here rewards you with smoothness instead of graininess.