Smooth garlic-Parmesan sauce coats penne for an irresistible, comforting meal, prepared in under half an hour.
# What You’ll Need:
→ For the Pasta
01 - 12 ounces penne pasta
02 - Water for boiling
03 - Salt for boiling water
→ For the Creamy Garlic Sauce
04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 cup heavy cream
07 - 1/2 cup whole milk
08 - 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
11 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
12 - 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
13 - 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
→ For Garnishing (optional)
14 - Fresh parsley, chopped
15 - Extra Parmesan cheese
16 - Ground black pepper
# How-To:
01 - Fill a large pot with water and season generously with salt. Bring to a rolling boil, then add penne pasta and cook until al dente, approximately 10–12 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain pasta and set aside.
02 - In a spacious skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until aromatic.
03 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Incorporate heavy cream, milk, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes if preferred, and Italian seasoning. Stir thoroughly and allow mixture to simmer for 2–3 minutes.
04 - Gradually add grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce while continuously stirring to ensure a smooth consistency without lumps. If the sauce thickens excessively, blend in reserved pasta water gradually until the desired texture is achieved.
05 - Introduce drained penne pasta into the skillet. Toss thoroughly to coat each piece with sauce, and cook for an additional 1–2 minutes to harmonize flavors.
06 - Remove skillet from heat. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley, additional Parmesan, and a dash of black pepper to taste. Serve promptly while warm.
