Quick and Easy One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta

This one-pot garlic parmesan pasta is rich, comforting, and comes together in about 20 minutes with zero separate boiling or draining required.

Prep time: 5 mins | Cook time: 15 mins | Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)

• 1 1/4 cups whole milk (or half-and-half)

• 8 oz uncooked penne pasta

• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for serving)

• 1/2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)

• 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

• 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Sauté the garlic: Melt the butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, making sure not to brown or burn it.

2. Add liquids and pasta: Pour in the broth, milk, salt, black pepper, and uncooked penne. Stir everything together and bring the liquid to a gentle boil.

3. Simmer: Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover with a lid, and let simmer for 12 to 15 minutes. Stir every 3–4 minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom. Cook until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has absorbed into a creamy base.

4. Melt the cheese: Remove the pan from heat completely. Stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until fully melted and emulsified into a glossy sauce.

5. Garnish and serve: Let the pasta sit for 2 minutes to thicken slightly. Top with extra shaved Parmesan, freshly ground black pepper, and chopped parsley before serving warm.

Cook's Tips

• Grate your own cheese: Pre-shredded bagged Parmesan contains anti-caking starches that will make your sauce grainy instead of silky.

• Liquid adjustment: If the sauce looks a little too thick after adding the cheese, stir in a splash of warm milk or broth to loosen it up.