Description
This One Pan Butter Parmesan Pasta is the ultimate quick comfort meal — creamy, cheesy, and made in just one skillet. With simple pantry ingredients like pasta, garlic, butter, milk, and Parmesan, this dish comes together in under 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, lazy weekends, or when you're short on time but craving something rich and satisfying. Whether you're looking for easy dinner ideas, a quick lunch, or just a cozy meal, this easy recipe checks all the boxes. It’s a great addition to your list of food ideas for the whole family!
Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cup milk
1 ½ cups elbow macaroni, uncooked
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
¼ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, stirring often to avoid burning.
2. Pour in the vegetable broth and milk. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.
3. Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to the skillet. Let the mixture simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
4. Cook for 10–12 minutes or until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has thickened into a sauce.
5. Remove from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until fully melted and incorporated.
6. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
7. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Use freshly grated Parmesan for the best melt and flavor — pre-shredded cheese won’t blend as smoothly.
Stir frequently while the pasta cooks to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
If the sauce thickens too much after sitting, simply stir in a splash of milk to loosen it up.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: easy dinner, one pot pasta, parmesan pasta, comfort food, creamy pasta