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HomeCourseDinner
4.44 from 23 votes
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One Pot Creamy Parmesan Pasta

Total Time30 minutes minutes
Recipe
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By: Joanna Cismaru Posted: 05/19/19 Updated: 05/17/24

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This One Pot Creamy Parmesan Pasta is not only creamy and delicious but it’s super quick to make, ready in 30 minutes and pure comfort food! The secret of this one pot dish is in its simplicity! 

Table of Contents

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  • One Pot Creamy Parmesan Pasta
  • Ingredients You Need To Make This Creamy Parmesan Pasta
  • How To Make Creamy Parmesan Pasta In One Pot
  • Some Tips…
  • How To Store Leftover Creamy Parmesan Pasta
  • Here’s More Ways To Get Your Creamy Pasta Fix:
  • Subscribe & receive a FREE Comfort Food Recipe Book!
  • One Pot Creamy Parmesan Pasta
  • Did you try this recipe?
overhead shot of creamy parmesan pasta in a white and black plate

One Pot Creamy Parmesan Pasta

This is one of those one pot dishes I absolutely love because they’re so simple, quick but still pack lots of flavor. Totally a crowd pleaser. It’s the kind of dish that’s perfect for a busy mid-week meal, low effort but incredible output.

This beats the classic way of making pasta, so having said that, this is not a classic Italian dish. It’s simply meant to speed up your cooking process but still have delicious flavors. Lots of cream, parmesan cheese, garlic, all good stuff, so let’s get started.

Ingredients You Need To Make This Creamy Parmesan Pasta

Here’s what you’ll need to make this yummy pasta. As usual, keep on scrolling down to get the complete printable recipe.

  • Pasta – I like to use penne or fettuccine but really any pasta will work, even spaghetti or elbow macaroni.
  • Parmesan cheese – there’s no such thing as pasta without cheese. Get a good Parmesan cheese and grate it yourself, makes all the difference. It will melt into the sauce nicely, trust me.
  • Chicken broth – use a low sodium chicken broth, organic if possible, or simply make your own.
  • Heavy cream – you’ll want to use something with lots of fat as a base for this saucy penne. You can use half and half or milk but keep in mind that it will result in a more liquid-y sauce.
  • Garlic – this will give you lots of flavor, so throw in lots of garlic!
  • Olive oil – just a bit to saute the garlic in it.
  • Salt and pepper – to taste.
  • Parsley – just a little bit for garnish and to give your pasta a burst of fresh flavor.
overhead shot of ingredients needed to make creamy parmesan pasta

How To Make Creamy Parmesan Pasta In One Pot

Saute the garlic: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Add pasta and broth: Stir in the chicken broth, milk and penne. Season with salt and pepper.

Cook the pasta: Bring everything to a boil then turn the heat down to a simmer and cook for 18 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the pasta is cooked through.

Stir in the cheese: Stir in the Parmesan cheese. Garnish with parsley and serve warm.

process shots showing how to make one pot creamy parmesan pasta

Some Tips…

This is a very forgiving recipe, literally fool-proof. If you find the sauce is too thick or the pasta is not cooked but you ran out of liquid, simply add another splash of hot water. Keep in mind that the pasta should be al dente, meaning cooked but still firm to the bite.

Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese, it really does make all the difference. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese will melt beautifully into the sauce while store bought might not.

Experiment with ingredients. This is a great basic recipe that can be quite versatile, so add some veggies or protein to it if you want. Try adding some cooked chicken, or some veggies like asparagus, broccoli or mushrooms.

creamy parmesan pasta in one pot garnished with parsley

How To Store Leftover Creamy Parmesan Pasta

This dish is also delicious the next day, just be sure to store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 – 4 days. You can freeze this recipe too, it’ll stay fresh for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

creamy parmesan pasta in a plate garnished with parsley

Here’s More Ways To Get Your Creamy Pasta Fix:

  • Easy Pasta Alfredo
  • Mushroom Pasta
  • Spinach Artichoke Pasta
  • One Pot Spaghetti
  • Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper
  • Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
  • Cheesy Taco Pasta
  • One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
  • Creamy Parmesan Orzo with Chicken and Asparagus
  • Beef Stroganoff
  • One Pot Sausage Pasta

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Recipe
4.44 from 23 votes

One Pot Creamy Parmesan Pasta

This One Pot Creamy Parmesan Pasta is not only creamy and delicious but it's super quick to make, ready in 30 minutes and pure comfort food! The secret of this one pot dish is in its simplicity! 
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 20 minutes mins
Total: 30 minutes mins
Print
Rate
4

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups chicken broth low sodium
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 8 ounce penne uncooked
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper or to taste
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 2 tablespoon parsley fresh, chopped
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Saute the garlic: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  • Add pasta and broth: Stir in the chicken broth, milk and penne. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Cook the pasta: Bring everything to a boil then turn the heat down to a simmer and cook for 18 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the pasta is cooked through.
  • Stir in the Parmesan cheese.
  • Garnish with parsley and serve.

Tips & Notes:

  1. If you find the sauce is too thick or the pasta is not cooked but you ran out of liquid, simply add another splash of hot water. Keep in mind that the pasta should be al dente, meaning cooked but still firm to the bite.
  2. This dish is also delicious the next day, just be sure to store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 – 4 days. You can freeze this recipe too, it’ll stay fresh for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

nutrition facts

Calories: 639kcal (32%) Carbohydrates: 47g (16%) Protein: 14g (28%) Fat: 44g (68%) Saturated Fat: 24g (150%) Cholesterol: 131mg (44%) Sodium: 815mg (35%) Potassium: 318mg (9%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 2g (2%) Vitamin A: 1570IU (31%) Vitamin C: 12mg (15%) Calcium: 232mg (23%) Iron: 1.2mg (7%)
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American, Italian

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts. Find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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