Creamy Garlic Pasta
A velvety pasta dish with a delicate garlic infusion, perfectly portioned for two to avoid leftovers. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 600 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 6 oz spaghetti
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup, grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of water with 1/2 tsp salt to a rolling boil. Add 6 oz spaghetti and cook for 8 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water; simmer for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 4: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet and toss for 1 minute until evenly coated. Season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper, then serve immediately.
