One Pot Creamy Pasta (gluten-free)

This One Pot Creamy Pasta is a MUST make. It is ready in under 30 minutes, is such a comfort food dish and the best part is how easy it is to make it. One pot and minimal mess!

This one pot creamy pasta is one of the dishes I just love. It is so simple, quick and flavorful. Not to mention it’s a hit with my kids too! It is such a crowd pleaser and it’s the kind of dish that’s great to busy nights or when you don’t have time for a delicious dish but want something cozy.

What I really love about this recipe though is how there is no straining or anything involved. It’s not a classic Italian dish. This is a shortcut mom dish that is meant to speed up the cooking process but still have delicious flavors. There’s butter, cheese, garlic and it’s too good.

You only need a few ingredients to make this creamy parmesan pasta. It really is a dish that anyone can make. And if you want to add some more protein to eat like cooked chicken or mini meatballs, go for it. Add broccoli or peas for veggies if you want too. You can really switch things up to make this what you are craving.

This is also a very forgiving recipes. It’s fool-proof and if your sauce is too thick, thin it out with more hot water or broth. If the sauce is too thick, heat it up a bit more cook so the sauce thickens. The pasta “drinks” the sauce so it will thicken as it cooks.

My kids call this the “long cheesy pasta” and they love it. I can’t wait for you to try this and love it as much as we do!

What ingredients you need to make this one pot creamy spaghetti:

• Parmesan cheese – freshly grated at home. I find that works better than cheese that is already grated at the store
• Unsalted butter – I haven’t tried a sub here. You could try a vegan butter if you wanted too
• Garlic cloves – minced. I don’t prefer garlic cloves over garlic powder 
• Chicken broth – or use veggie broth. Either one can work for this recipe 
• Milk – I used full fat cow’s milk but you can use skim or low-fat too for this
• Gluten-free fettuccine or spaghetti – you can use any long-shape pasta. And if you’re not gluten-free, then you can use regular pasta. Just adjust cook time per the box the noodles come in
• Fresh or dried parsley to garnish

How to make this one pot garlic parmesan pasta:

1. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large pot or skillet (I used this one)
2. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally
3. Add in the chicken broth and milk and stir
4. Bring to a boil then add in pasta noodles (break them in half if desired so they fit better)
5. Use kitchen tongs to twist them into the skillet as they soften
6. Let the pasta simmer for about 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure the noodles don’t stick together
7. Turn off heat then add in 1 tablespoon butter and mix well
8. Add in the parmesan cheese and mix all together (sauce may be thin at first but it thickens as the pasta continues to absorb it)
9. Serve with parsley on top if desired while warm

FAQs and tips on making this one pot garlic parmesan pasta:

• What is the best way to store leftovers? In airtight container for 3 to 4 days. I like to add a splash of water or milk to so the sauce thins out when it’s reheated.
• Can I use another noodle? Any long-shaped pasta works in this. So spaghetti, fettuccine, angel hair, etc. I would adjust cook time based off of the box of the pasta.
• Can I make this dish dairy-free? I haven’t tried this with dairy-free subs. You can definitely try this with vegan butter and cheese. I personally haven’t so I can’t say for flavor how it will turn out.
• What about protein? What do you recommend? Some cooked chicken, mini meatballs or anything you’d like!

A few other delicious pasta recipes to try:

10-minute Brown Butter Sage Pasta (gluten-free)

The Easiest No-Boil Baked Pasta Recipe (gluten-free)

One-Pan Baked Orzo Pasta

The Best Vegan Afredo Pasta Recipe