Go Back
An extreme close-up of creamy garlic pasta on a fork, showing the rich texture of the garlic parmesan sauce and fresh parsley.

One Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta (The Ultimate 30-Minute Recipe)

This One Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta is the ultimate 30-minute weeknight dinner! This simple, no-drain recipe delivers a rich, flavorful garlic parmesan sauce that the whole family will love. Perfect for busy nights and minimal cleanup.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 580
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 tbsp Butter
  • 6 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes optional, adjust to taste
  • 4 cups Vegetable or Chicken Broth
  • 8 oz Fettuccine or other long pasta
  • 1/2 tsp Salt or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper freshly ground
  • 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
  • 1 cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Large skillet or Dutch oven
  • 1 Tongs

Method
 

  1. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt the butter with the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for about 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Be careful not to let it brown or burn.
  2. Pour in the broth and bring it to a gentle simmer. Add the dry fettuccine, ensuring the pasta is as submerged as possible. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Let the pasta cook for about 10-12 minutes, stirring frequently with tongs to prevent sticking. The liquid will reduce and the pasta will become al dente.
  4. Once the pasta is cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed, reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and the freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
  5. Continue stirring until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce has thickened to your liking. Remove from the heat and let it rest for 2-3 minutes; the sauce will thicken more as it cools slightly. Stir in the fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

For the best results, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
Stir the pasta frequently as it cooks to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.