Creamy Garlic Pasta with Parsley (Printable Version)

Tender pasta in a rich garlic cream sauce with fresh parsley. Ready in 30 minutes for an elegant yet easy Italian dinner.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz fettuccine or spaghetti

→ Sauce

02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 6 cloves garlic, finely minced
05 - 1 cup heavy cream
06 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
08 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - Pinch of ground nutmeg, optional

→ Finishing

10 - ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
11 - Extra Parmesan cheese for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter with olive oil. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant but not browned.
03 - Pour heavy cream into the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
04 - Add grated Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg if using. Stir until cheese melts and sauce thickens slightly.
05 - Add cooked pasta to skillet, tossing to coat evenly in sauce. Add reserved pasta water gradually until desired consistency is reached.
06 - Remove from heat and stir in chopped parsley.
07 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and additional parsley if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in exactly the time it takes your pasta to cook, making this my go-to when I need comfort food but dont have the energy for anything complex.
  • The reserved pasta water trick gives you perfect sauce consistency every single time, something I wish someone had told me years ago.
02 -
  • Always reserve some pasta cooking water before draining, I once had to thin my sauce with plain tap water which diluted all that beautiful flavor I'd built.
  • The sauce will continue thickening as it cools, so serve immediately or make it slightly thinner than you think you need if there will be any delay.
03 -
  • The pinch of nutmeg mentioned as optional genuinely transforms this dish, adding a warmth that most people cant identify but everyone appreciates.
  • Warm your serving bowls in the oven while you finish the sauce, as cold dishes will make the creamy sauce solidify much faster.

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