Want dinner ready in just 30 minutes without the hassle of cleaning the entire kitchen? This one pot garlic parmesan pasta comes together in just one pot and is ready in NO time!
I absolutely love easy pasta recipes, and this one's a family favorite-simple ingredients, minimal effort, and tons of flavor.
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This recipe was updated on April 1st 2025 to add in frequently asked questions, condense redundant information, and add in nutritional information.
Recipe at a Glance
- Cook Time: 30 minutes. No, really. 30 minutes.
- Cook Level: One pot pasta recipes are very simple to set up and walk away, letting it do it's thing on the stove.
- Taste: Creamy, cheesy, hearty, and satisfying. What's not to love?
- Swaps and Subs: Swap for gluten free pasta, use veggie stock if you're vegetarian. If you want to incorporate veggies, add some spinach, broccoli, or peas. Add in ground beef or ground turkey to this dish for some added protein.
- Pair With: Make some juicy chicken cutlets or a similar recipe, chicken milanese to throw on top, or aside Italian baked turkey meatballs.
Trusted Tips and Key Reminders
- Use enough liquid to cook the pasta, but not too much that the pasta gets al dente. Thick three cups total, one of which is the cream such as milk or half and half. The other two cups for water or for stock.
- Wait until there is a very little amount of liquid in the pot once the pasta cooks to add the parmesan. We are looking for a thicker sauce rather than keeping it thin.
- Using stock when cooking pasta gives the pasta a richer, heartier flavor, and also adds in more protein.
- Season the liquid with salt while it cooks. This is similar to adding salt to boiling water. You want to season the pasta as it cooks!
- I find covering the pasta halfway and stirring occasionally aids in the cooking process.
The Ingredients
- Pasta - short pasta like mezzi rigatoni, penne, or even rotini works great for this dish.
- Garlic - minced garlic sautéed in butter, truly nothing better.
- Butter - the butter is used for sautéing the garlic before we cook the pasta, it also helps with thickening the entire dish.
- Parmesan cheese - this will act as the parmesan in the sauce itself, and also as an additional garnish.
- Milk - The liquid we use along with the stock or broth to thicken and make the parmesan sauce once the cheese is added.
- Chicken Stock - helps give the sauce flavor and with thickening the sauce itself. This is also used to cook the pasta.
- Salt and Pepper - a few fresh cracks of each balance out the creaminess and fat of the parmesan sauce.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.
Step by Step Instructions
Prep the Garlic
Peel and mince four garlic cloves.
Sauté the Garlic
In a large pot, melt the butter and add the garlic, sauté until fragrant.
Build the Sauce
Pour in the chicken stock, heavy cream and bring to a boil.
Add the Pasta and Cook
Add in the pasta, then lower the heat to a simmer. Cook for 18 minutes or until al dente.
Add the Cheese
Add in the parmesan and stir to combine. The sauce should begin to get thick and coat the pasta evenly.
Garnish and Serve
Sprinkle with fresh cracked pepper and salt. Serve as desired with a garnish of extra parmesan and fresh basil.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I store leftovers?
Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Place the pasta dish wrapped in plastic wrap directly in the freezer for up to 1-2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
If you want to reheat, you can obviously use the microwave if you're warming a smaller bowl of leftovers, but if you have an entire pot of it, you can ¼ cup stock and bring to a low flame. Cook and stir frequently to make sure all the pasta warms evenly.
What is the best ratio of liquid to use?
I like to use a 2:1 when it comes to liquid: one cup milk or half and half to two cups of stock or broth. If you want a creamier flavor, you can opt for equal parts milk to equal parts stock, but stick to three cups of liquid overall!
Can I add any seasonings to this to spruce it up?
Feel free to add in red pepper flakes, a little dried oregano, or fresh basil to give it color and flavor.
Hungry for More?
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Did you love this recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you're just as in love with this recipe as I am, please share a comment below and rate it! Better yet, share this recipe with family and friends!! Thank you!
30-Minute One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Equipment
- 1 large pot
- 1 strainer
- 1 wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pkg short pasta
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoon butter unsalted
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 1 cup whole milk or half and half
- 2 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Peel and mince (very finely chop) four garlic cloves.
- In a large pot, melt the butter and add the garlic, sauté until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken stock, heavy cream and bring to a boil.
- Add in the pasta, then lower the heat to a simmer. Cook for 18 minutes or until al dente.
- Add in the parmesan and stir to combine. The sauce should begin to get thick and coat the pasta evenly.
- Sprinkle with fresh cracked pepper and salt. Serve as desired with a garnish of extra parmesan and fresh basil.
Ally says
I absolutely love this recipe. it's so easy to make and my kids will actually eat this!!!! This is a home run!