Description
This One-Pot Creamy Parmesan Pasta recipe is the perfect weeknight meal! It’s simple, satisfying, and requires minimal cleanup. Everything cooks together in one pot, creating a rich and flavorful sauce that coats every noodle. Ready in under 30 minutes!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (such as penne, rotini, or farfalle)
- 4 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- Optional: Red pepper flakes, for heat
- Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the pasta, vegetable broth, butter, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is cooked al dente (about 10-12 minutes). The liquid should mostly be absorbed.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash more broth.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Stir in red pepper flakes, if using.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, if desired.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, be sure to use vegetable broth.
- Feel free to add cooked vegetables like broccoli florets or spinach in the last few minutes of cooking.
- Adjust the amount of Parmesan cheese to your liking.
- If you don’t have heavy cream, you can substitute with half-and-half, but the sauce won’t be as thick.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: One-Pot
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Protein: 15g
