Lazy Cheesy Garlic Pasta Recipe
Lazy cheesy garlic pasta is a quick and comforting dish perfect for busy evenings. Made with simple pantry staples like pasta, garlic, butter, cream, and parmesan cheese, this recipe delivers a creamy, flavorful meal in just 20 minutes. The garlic butter sauce envelops the pasta, enhanced by a rich cheesy finish, making it an effortless yet satisfying dinner option.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 250 g pasta (spaghetti, penne, or fusilli)
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- ½ cup heavy cream or whole milk
- ¾ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Optional: chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Prepare garlic butter: In a large skillet or saucepan, melt the butter over low to medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned to avoid bitterness.
- Make the sauce: Pour the cream or milk into the pan with the garlic butter and stir gently to combine. Warm the mixture over low heat for 2–3 minutes, keeping it just below a simmer to maintain a smooth sauce.
- Toss pasta in sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the pan and toss gently to coat evenly with the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add small amounts of the reserved pasta water until the desired consistency is reached.
- Add cheese and season: Sprinkle in the grated parmesan cheese and stir continuously until the cheese melts completely and the sauce turns creamy. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Rest and serve: Remove the pan from heat and let the pasta rest for 1–2 minutes for the sauce to thicken slightly. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve warm.
Notes
- To make this dish vegetarian, use vegetarian parmesan cheese without animal rennet.
- Heavy cream yields a richer sauce, but whole milk can be used for a lighter version.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency for a silky texture.
- Do not brown the garlic; cooking it just until fragrant prevents bitterness.
- Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for best melting and flavor.
- Garnishing with parsley adds freshness but is optional.
Keywords: cheesy garlic pasta, easy pasta recipe, quick comfort food, creamy pasta, one pan pasta, garlic butter sauce
Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/lazy-cheesy-garlic-pasta-recipe/