20-Minute One-Pot Creamy Garlic Herb Pasta (No Heavy Cream)
Rich, velvety, and cooked in a single skillet in 20 minutes. Learn the culinary starch trick that creates luxurious creamy garlic pasta without heavy cream.
SavedIdea Team · 1 min read
Most traditional Alfredo and cream sauces leave you feeling weighed down and leave half a dozen dirty pots and colanders in the sink. This one pot creamy garlic pasta cooks the pasta directly in seasoned broth and milk, harnessing the pasta's own released starches to create a velvety, glossy sauce with zero heavy cream required.
Ingredients You'll Need
- 8 oz dry fettuccine, penne, or linguine
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 cups whole milk or unsweetened almond milk
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter or extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt and 1/4 tsp cracked black pepper
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Sauté Garlic: Melt butter in a wide deep skillet over medium heat. Sauté minced garlic for 60 seconds until fragrant (do not let it burn).
- Add Liquids & Pasta: Pour in broth, milk, salt, pepper, and dry pasta. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Simmer: Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered for 11 to 14 minutes, stirring frequently so noodles don't stick to the pan bottom, until pasta is al dente and sauce thickens.
- Emulsify: Remove from heat and stir in freshly grated Parmesan. The sauce will coat every noodle in a glossy, silky glaze within two minutes of cooling.
