1 Shares

Our Best Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta Recipe (Simple & Speedy!)

Are you on the hunt for the ideal weeknight dinner? We all know the kind we mean—a meal that feels both decadent and comforting, yet is astonishingly quick and easy to put together after a hectic day. Imagine serving up a pasta dish of restaurant quality in less than 30 minutes, using ingredients that are likely already in your kitchen. We’re delighted to tell you that it’s entirely possible. Join us as we share our guaranteed recipe for the most glorious Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta you’ll ever taste.

This dish is a beautiful ode to simplicity. It elevates everyday ingredients like garlic, cream, and Parmesan into a smooth, flavourful sauce that generously coats each piece of penne. It’s the type of meal that gathers everyone around the dinner table, offering a warm hug in a bowl that truly satisfies. Say goodbye to complex instructions and lengthy cooking times; this recipe is all about achieving incredible flavour with the least amount of effort. Let’s get started!

Why You’ll Adore This Recipe

Ready in Under 30 Minutes: This is the perfect solution for a busy evening. From starting in the kitchen to serving at the table, you are less than half an hour away from a deeply satisfying dinner.
Incredibly Flavourful: We believe in generous flavours. The sauce is rich and velvety, striking a wonderful balance between aromatic garlic and the salty, nutty notes of Parmesan cheese.
Uses Simple, Everyday Ingredients: There’s no need to make a special trip to the supermarket. This recipe is built on pantry essentials like pasta, butter, milk, garlic, and cheese.
Wonderfully Customisable: We’re providing you with a fantastic foundation. This dish serves as an excellent canvas for you to add grilled chicken, succulent prawns, or your favourite vegetables such as spinach and mushrooms.
Pure Comfort Food: There is something deeply comforting about a bowl of creamy pasta. It’s the ideal dish to impress your family and friends without having to spend hours cooking.

The Essential Ingredients for Our Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta

The true charm of this recipe is found in its simplicity. We take a small selection of high-quality ingredients to craft a sauce that tastes as though it has been simmering away for hours. Here is what you will need to have ready before you start:

Penne Pasta: The ridges on penne are designed to catch every last bit of this luscious sauce. However, you can certainly substitute it with other shapes like fusilli, rigatoni, or farfalle.
Butter: We begin our sauce with unsalted butter, which provides a rich and creamy base.
Garlic: The true star of our dish! We strongly suggest using fresh garlic cloves to achieve the most powerful and fragrant flavour. Mince them finely to let their essence infuse the entire sauce.
Plain Flour: This acts as our thickening agent. Only a tablespoon is required to form a simple roux, which gives the sauce its wonderful body.
Milk and Double Cream: For the ideal blend of richness without being too heavy, we use a combination of whole milk and double cream.
Parmesan Cheese: To get the best texture, always buy a block of Parmesan and grate it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese often contains additives that can hinder it from melting smoothly.
Seasoning: A straightforward trio of salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a very small pinch of nutmeg works beautifully to enhance all the other flavours.
Fresh Parsley: A little freshly chopped parsley, stirred through at the end and sprinkled over the top, introduces a hint of freshness and a lovely pop of colour.

Step-by-Step Guide to Perfect Penne in Garlic Cream Sauce

Putting together this luxurious meal is simpler than you might imagine. We have broken the process down into easy, straightforward steps. Just follow along, and you will have a perfect bowl of penne in garlic cream sauce ready in a flash.

Cook the Pasta: Fill a large pot with well-salted water and bring it to a vigorous boil. Tip in the penne and cook it following the package instructions until it is *al dente*—meaning it should retain a slight firmness. Perfect pasta is crucial; as BBC Good Food explains, this texture stops it from becoming soggy when mixed with the sauce. Before you drain it, remember to save about a cup of the starchy cooking water.
Start the Garlic Sauce: As the pasta boils, melt the butter in a large frying pan or skillet over a medium-low heat. Add your minced garlic and cook it gently for 1–2 minutes, just until it becomes fragrant. Be very careful not to let it brown, as burnt garlic has a bitter taste.
Create the Roux: Sprinkle the plain flour over the garlic butter. Whisk it constantly for a minute or so to cook away the raw flour taste. This paste is known as a roux, and it forms the foundation of our creamy sauce.
Build the Creamy Base: Gradually pour in the milk, whisking all the time to ensure no lumps form. Once the milk is smoothly incorporated, add the double cream and stir everything together. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until it starts to thicken. This technique is the key to any great White Pasta Sauce Recipe.
Add the Flavour: Lower the heat and stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it has fully melted into the sauce. Season with salt, black pepper, and that little pinch of nutmeg. Taste it and adjust the seasonings if you think it needs it.
Combine and Serve: Drain the cooked penne and transfer it straight into the pan with your sauce. Add the chopped fresh parsley and toss it all together until the pasta is completely coated in that wonderful sauce. If the sauce looks a little too thick, add a small splash of the reserved pasta water to achieve your preferred consistency. Serve straight away, garnished with a little more Parmesan and a sprinkle of parsley.

Our Top Tips for the Best Vegetarian Garlic Pasta

To help you make sure your pasta is flawless every single time, we’ve put together a few of our best professional tips. These little details can make a significant difference, elevating your simple pasta dinner into a truly memorable occasion.

Don’t Overcook the Pasta

We cannot say this enough! The pasta will carry on cooking for a short while after you add it to the hot sauce. Taking it out of the boiling water when it is perfectly *al dente* will guarantee the finished dish has the ideal texture. Nobody likes mushy pasta!

Use Fresh Ingredients

While substitutes like garlic powder and pre-grated cheese might do the job in an emergency, using fresh garlic cloves and a solid block of Parmesan will give your dish a vastly superior flavour and texture. The fresh garlic is more aromatic, and Parmesan you grate yourself melts into a much smoother, creamier sauce for this delicious vegetarian garlic pasta.

Harness the Power of Pasta Water

The cloudy water left after cooking your pasta is like liquid gold! The starches released from the pasta into the water work as a natural emulsifier and thickener. Adding a couple of tablespoons to your sauce helps it to cling beautifully to the penne, resulting in a more unified and silky dish.

Control the Heat

When you are making a sauce with cream, it is vital to use gentle heat. If you let the sauce boil, especially after adding the cheese, it can cause it to split or become grainy. A low, gentle simmer is all that is needed to meld the flavours and create that velvety smooth consistency.

Variations and Delicious Add-ins

One of the greatest features of this recipe is its adaptability. You can easily tweak it according to what you have available or what you are in the mood for. Here are some of our favourite ideas to inspire you:

Add Some Protein: Sliced grilled chicken breast, pan-fried prawns, crispy pancetta, or crumbled Italian sausage are all fantastic additions. Just cook your chosen protein separately and then stir it into the pasta right at the end.
Pack in the Veggies: Wilt a couple of large handfuls of fresh spinach into the sauce just before you add the pasta. Sautéed mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted broccoli florets, or sweet garden peas also work beautifully.
Give it a Kick: For anyone who enjoys a bit of spice, add a pinch (or more!) of red pepper flakes into the pan along with the garlic.
Make it an Easy One-Pot Meal: For an even faster clean-up, you can adjust this recipe to make it in a single pan. Take a look at our One Pot Creamy Garlic Pasta for a guide on how to cook the pasta directly in the sauce.

What to Serve with Your Parmesan Garlic Penne

Although this parmesan garlic penne is a wonderfully complete meal by itself, a simple side dish can really round out the dining experience. We suggest keeping the sides light to balance the richness of the pasta.

Garlic Bread: You can never have too much garlic! A warm, crusty slice of garlic bread is the perfect tool for mopping up every last drop of the delicious sauce.
A Simple Green Salad: A crisp salad made with mixed leaves, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes, all tossed in a light lemon vinaigrette, offers a fresh, acidic contrast that cuts through the creaminess of the pasta.
Roasted Vegetables: A side of roasted asparagus or broccoli, drizzled with a little olive oil and seasoned with salt, adds a lovely texture and some extra nutrients to your meal.

FAQ

Can I make this dish gluten-free?

Of course! All you need to do is substitute the penne for your preferred type of gluten-free pasta. To thicken the sauce, you can replace the plain flour with a cornflour slurry. Simply mix one tablespoon of cornflour with two tablespoons of cold water, then whisk this mixture into the simmering sauce until it has thickened.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Any leftover pasta should be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. For reheating, we suggest warming it gently in a pan over a low heat on the hob. You may need to add a splash of milk or cream to loosen the sauce, as it will thicken significantly when chilled.

My sauce is too thick/thin. How can I fix it?

This is very easy to solve! If your sauce seems too thick, just whisk in a little of the reserved pasta water or some extra milk until it reaches the consistency you like. If the sauce is too thin, allow it to simmer for a few more minutes to reduce, or you can stir in a bit more grated Parmesan cheese to help it thicken.

Can I use a different type of cheese?

While Parmesan is the classic choice, you are welcome to experiment! A mix of Pecorino Romano and Parmesan would be delicious. You could also try adding a little Gruyère or fontina for an extra nutty flavour and a beautifully melted texture.

Conclusion: Your New Favourite Quick Penne Recipe

And there we have it—a simple, elegant, and utterly satisfying quick penne recipe that is sure to become a regular feature in your weekly meal plan. This dish is perfect proof that you do not need a long list of complicated ingredients or hours of your time to create something truly wonderful. The rich, velvety garlic cream sauce combined with perfectly cooked pasta is comfort food at its absolute best.

Whether you prepare it as a speedy weeknight dinner, a straightforward vegetarian meal, or use it as a base for something more elaborate, this recipe is always a dependable choice. We are certain that you and your family will adore its creamy consistency and full-bodied flavour.

Now, it’s over to you to get into the kitchen! We would be delighted to hear how this recipe turns out for you. Please feel free to leave a comment and a rating below to let us know about your experience. And don’t forget to tag us in your photos on social media—we always love to see your amazing creations!

Pin1