Super simple and delicious Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta recipe packed with flavor. This dish is perfect by itself or you can add chicken too!
I LOVE pasta! I mean, who doesn’t?! It can be made into so many different recipes – from salads to main courses, and is always delicious!! I mean, yes, they have carbs, but this girl needs them in her life because I cook with them ALL the time. In fact, now that I think about it, we usually have pasta at least once a week. From Spaghetti to Fettuccine Alfredo, it’s something the whole family loves so we have it quite often. This next dish is another one of those dishes you can add to the meal plan, because it’s simple and definitely delicious. This Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta is great on it’s own but could be even heartier if you add chicken or another favorite meat to eat.
If you like pasta dishes I would definitely try this one out. It’s super cheesy and has just the right touch of garlic and other spices making it another “go-to” dinner recipe!
If you want to make this recipe even more cheesy, add 1/2 – 1 cup of your favorite cheese (we usually do shredded Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese), and it takes to a whole new level of delicious-ness! 😉
MY OTHER RECIPESWe love serving pasta like this we an easy SIDE DISH and some Cheesy garlic bread. Just another quick, easy dinner meal!
For more easy pasta recipes, check out:
For video instructions on how to make Creamy Garlic Penne Pasta, check out the video below:
How to make Garlic Penne Pasta:
- 1 box (1 lb) penne pasta
- 3 TB butter
- 2 tsp. minced garlic
- 3 TB flour
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tsp dried parsley
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- Cook pasta according to packaged directions.
- Melt butter in a medium sauce pan, add garlic.
- Cook for 1 minute over medium heat
- Add flour and cook for an additional minute, stirring constantly.
- Add milk and broth, stirring constantly. Cook until sauce boils and thickens.
- Add parsley and parmesan cheese. Add desired salt and pepper. Continue stirring until cheese has melted. Serve immediately.
- Pour sauce over pasta and serve.
Recipe adapted from HERE.
Amy+Huntley
Looks delicious! Pinned!
Sheila
Amy, how did you pin it? I don’t see that option. Thanks!
Victoria {Scissors & Sage}
This looks like an incredibly delicious and simple dinner option. I love pasta, and often look for ways to change things up a bit. Thanks! -Victoria
Lil' Luna
You will have to let me know if you give it a try. We love it! Thanks for stopping by!!
Victoria+{Scissors+&+Sage}
It was absolutely perfect. Thank you! http://scissorsandsage.com/2014/10/06/creamy-garlic-linguine/
Lil' Luna
LOVE hearing that!!
Alison
This looks great! I just have one question. Does it matter what type of milk you use?I only usually have 1 % milk. Thanks!
Lil' Luna
Whole milk always seems to taste best but I don’t think there is much difference if you use 1% or 2 %. 😉
Carisa Smith
Pasta is my weakness. This looks super simple and delish! Pinned!!
Lil' Luna
Same, Carisa! It’s just so easy most the time and OH-SO delicious. 😉
Brooke Heeb
This looks so good! I can’t wait to try it out!
Erin
Found you on the Made by you Monday link party. Love the garlic penne. I pinned it and started following you on Google +.
Erin
http://theeveryday-mom.blogspot.com/
Lil' Luna
Thank you!!
Kim
I’ve made this twice already and both times it was great! The first time I added some veggies and the second time I threw in some veggies and shrimp. This is now on my list of dinners to make when I need something quick. I think my favorite thing is that I always have all of the ingredients on hand.
Lil' Luna
Don’t you love simple and delicious recipes that you always have the ingredients on hand for?! And great idea to add veggies!
Sarah @ The Teacher's Wife
This looks delicious! I’m a sucker for creamy pastas! 🙂
Lil' Luna
SAME!! They’re our favorites!!
need_tea
I love pasta! Just wondering, how many does this serve?
Lil' Luna
I believe it was 5-7. 🙂
Dawn
I made this last weekend, tossed it with chicken, it was soooooo good! I’m making it again this weekend. We had enough left over for lunches for the week, too! Great recipe, thank you so much!
Lil' Luna
Hi, Dawn! Thank you so much for sytopping by. Glad you liked this. Reminded me that I need to make it again soon too! Happy Thanksgiving!
J
Very easy and delicious recipie! I’ve made cream sauces in the past that just didn’t work for me. This one worked great! I used powdered garlic (didn’t have fresh on hand), half and half cream as I was trying to use it up, and dill instead of parsley. Would go excellent with chicken!
Lil' Luna
All your substitutions sound amazing! This is a recipe we love too – so glad you like it!
jessica
Hi Luna,
I just found this recipe and I plan to make this dish tonight! Since it’s just me, I probably will only cook half of the box of pasta…. would I need to scale back the ingredients if I do? Thanks!
Lil' Luna
Just now seeing this. I would probably 1/3 the recipe for an individual size. 1/3 box, 1 TB butter, 1 tsp. garlic, 1 TB flour, 1/3 cup chicken broth, 1/3 cup milk, 1 tsp. parsley, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese. 😉
Géraldine M
Hi! I’m from Europ and I’m not sure about tsp and TB.
Does it mean teaspoon and tablesoon?
Thank you!!
Lil' Luna
Yes. tsp = teaspoon and TB = tablespoon. 😉
Breanna
Thank you so much!! Just made this for dinner and it was amazing!!! Everything turned out great!
Michelle
I found this recipe the other day on Pinterest and just made it tonight. I added a little more butter (because my family uses skim milk) and simmered all the ingredients a couple of minutes extra for each step.
This recipe was absolutely heavenly! It was really simple and super delicious!
Lil' Luna
Hi Michelle! Thank you so much for stopping by. I’m glad it wa sa hit! 🙂
sierra
How many does this serve and do you think it would go well with Italian Sausage?
Lil' Luna
I think Italian sausage would be great with this!! Whenever I make it, we usually feed 6-8 people. 😉
Béatrice
I usually don’t comment on any website. But this recipe is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in my entire life!! It is so simple and doesn’t take a long time to do! I’ve done it like 5 times this month!
Lil' Luna
Oh, I LOVE to hear that Beatrice!! It’s one of our favorites too. Definitely simple and so delicious. 😉
Mady
Mine turned out to be brown sauce…why?
Liv
Me too! I’m making it now and haven’t tried yet but it smells good
Chris
I’m guessing you might have browned the flour too much. You really want a blonde (or slightly less) roux, so make sure you have your liquids ready before you add the garlic and flour. Adding the liquids is what will stop them from Browning.
Kristyn Merkley
I agree, Chris. It probably burned a little. I like to have everything ready & I don’t leave it, once I’ve started, because it can, quick.
colnacat
Loved it! Added some fresh sliced baby Bella mushrooms. Turned out fantastic! Sure to be showing up on our table again. 🙂
Pat
Thanks for sharing this simple and delicious recipe! I added leftover chicken. Could have added some veggies too, but didn’t this time around.
Lil' Luna
Chicken would be great in there!! It’s a great versatile recipe:) Thank you for trying this recipe!
Victoria
Looks great but that is rigatoni pasta not penne.
Lil' Luna
I did use penne, but you could use whatever pasta you like 🙂
Kim
Came here to say the same thing. Lol!
Jazmin Oliver
This sounds amazing! Can I substitute a different broth to accommodate vegetarians?
Lil' Luna
Of course, though I haven’t tried that. If you do, let us know what you used and how it came out! Thanks so much and enjoy!!
Victoria
This recipe is delicious! I made it for my husband tonight, however I did substitute Mozarella cheese for Parmesan. Thank you for the delicious recipe, it is going in our keeper file!
Clarisa
Made this recipe tonight for my husband and son and they absolutely loved it! This recipe was very delicious…!!😋😋😊 Thank you.
Lil' Luna
That is great!! I’m so glad they liked it. We love it! Thank you for giving it a try and of course, for letting me know 🙂
Top 10 Aarti
This looks really yummy-going to try this soon!
Lil' Luna
It is..Let me know what you think 🙂 Thank you!
bluethreads
this exceeded my expectations! yum! I used half a cup of whole milk and half a cup of half and half. I didn’t have broth, so I substituted white wine. I added salt and white pepper to taste. I also added a dash of garlic powder to taste, at the end, to emphasize the garlic flavor. I ate this on top of pasta with peas! tastes great with and without the peas mixed in the sauce. this was quick and easy to make. the sauce came together nicely. the consistency was very creamy. my only complaint is that my stomach isn’t big enough to eat more!
Lil' Luna
LOL!! I am so glad you tried it and loved it!! I love the changes you made. I’ll have to try your way 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing!
Stella
This is the first pasta recipe I have ever followed, in fact the first recipe in general I’m just learning to cook. I’m really happy I found this, the pasta was fairly easy to make, and tastes delicious 😀 Will definitely be cooking this when I go to uni next year, thank you for sharing!
Lil' Luna
You are so welcome!! I am so glad you found it easy 🙂 I have tons of super easy & quick recipes, so keep checking back 🙂 Thank you!
Laina
except that’s rigatoni, not penne, but looks good!
Sheila
This really looks delicious that it made me crave for pasta. Off now to the grocery store to get some ingredients and try this.
Lil' Luna
Yay!! I hope you like it! Pasta is a favorite around here! Thank you!
Anaya
Looks great but thats not penne pasta…. Penne pasta has pointed ends…. that’s rigatoni I believe.
wings io
Another way to make a familiar dish. I think it will be very attractive. I will do it for my family’s dinner. Thanks for your guidance a lot!
Kristyn Merkley
You are so welcome!! 🙂 We love this one!
Amanda
Just wondering if this meal freezes well. If I were to freeze it, should I add a bit more sauce?
Kristyn Merkley
I personally haven’t tried, but it should 🙂 I would add a bit more sauce. Let me know what you think 🙂 Hope you like it!
Nchandar
Made twice. Came out perfect. Very delicious pasta. My daughter loved it a lot .Thanks.
Kristyn Merkley
Very happy to hear that! Thank you! Glad she liked it 🙂
Callie Doumas
Loved this! Absolute heaven! I used stock and evap milk (not because I am fancy…it’s just all I had😉). Thanks for this simple recipe…great for a busy mama!
Kristyn Merkley
Glad you improvised! Thanks for sharing!
Annette
Does it have to be chicken broth what’s another option?
Kristyn Merkley
I haven’t tried using anything else. You could try another broth? Whichever one you like best.
Lan
Hello
What kind of butter should I use when I cook pasta please? I’m Asian and I don’t usually use butter so I don’t know which one is good.
Thank you.
Kristyn Merkley
You don’t cook the pasta in butter. You cook them in boiling water, but you do start making the sauce with butter, 3 tablespoons. I just use cubed butter for that. Hope that helps!! Good luck!
Josefina
Oh my goodness, I just made this and it was soooooooo good! I added some red pepper flakes cause I can’t help myself and love a little spice in all my foods 😉 but hands down some of the best pasta I’ve had! Thank you 🙂
Kristyn Merkley
I’m so glad to hear that!! Red pepper flakes would be great! Thank you 🙂
Thomas Anastasio
Fiance and I absolutely love this dish. So simple but sooo good. We eagerly await trying more of your recipes!
Tara Aho
I love it! And trust me I am such a tough critic to my own makings… But I devoured this pasta as if it were made by a top-notch chef! And yes it was so quick and simple to put together; I was super stoked!
I loved it without but just for protein I added chicken breast!
Kristyn Merkley
Yay!! Love to hear that!! Thank you!
Jessica
It was good, I have a big family i doubled up on the ingrinternets. I added a cup more of flour and a cup more of chicken broth. It thicken nicely.
4 out of 5 kids under 9yr liked it! But 5yr kid is going through a picky stage.
Over all we give it a thumbs up.
Kristyn Merkley
Yay! I know all about that picky stage! Thank you!
Ericka Vasquez
I just made this last night for my boyfriend and son and they loved it! his son wanted a second plate plus take the left over for lunch! Thank you so much for sharing!
Kristyn Merkley
Woohoo! That’s what I love to hear 🙂 Thank you so much!
Nicole
Thanks for this great recipe! It’s so easy to make, especially since most of the ingredients are staples in my kitchen The only thing I did different was add peas and cubed ham. I followed the recipe exactly and I almost ate the whole thing myself!
Kristyn Merkley
LOL!! Good idea about adding ham & peas! That’s why we love it, too..common ingredients! Thank you!
GoGoAnime
I will try this recipe tomorrow for my family
Kristyn Merkley
Let me know what they think 🙂 I hope they like it, as much as we do! Thank you!
Gladys
Hi Lil,
Thank you for sharing these wonderful recipes. I only signed up to your web site a few weeks ago and welcome your emails. I even made your recipe for Creamy Tomatoe Soup and it was Deeeeeelish!!!
Kristyn Merkley
Thanks so much, Gladys!! Thank you for subscribing to the emails 🙂
Leslie
I don’t like to cook and I’m not very good at it but I love food! This recipe is the easiest white sauce recipe to make and it taste very, very good!! It only needs a few ingredients and once you begin cooking, it goes smoothly and fast. I highly recommend.
Kristyn Merkley
Thank you so much Leslie for sharing that!! And, I agree..that’s why we love it 🙂
Sonia
Your recipes look great! I printed out some. I can’t wait to try some of them in the school cafeteria where I work. Thanks for sharing your recipes.
Kristyn Merkley
You are so welcome & thank you!! I hope the kids like them 🙂 Let me know what you hear!
Ana
I’m planning to make for dinner today. Can I leave the sauce at room temperature?
Kristyn Merkley
I am so sorry to have not responded sooner. It should have been ok:) What did you think?
router login
love it, i do it now, This is now on my list of dinners to make when I need something quick.
Kristyn Merkley
Let me know what you think, when you try it!
rajasekar
very nice penne pasta super
Kristyn Merkley
Thanks so much!! Hope you give it a try!
Jennie
I made this tonight. I added chicken, shrimp, red, yellow and orange peppers, mushrooms, a variety of different colored cherry tomatoes, brussels sprouts, broccoli, and asparagus. My family absolutely loved it!
Kristyn Merkley
Sounds great!! Thank you for sharing!
Elayne
This was so delicious and easy to make. I had my young boys do most of the work after I prepped it. We added Italian sausage and served with lots of veggies on the side. We will most definitely make again. Thank you!
Kristyn Merkley
Great way to get them involved! I am glad it was a hit! Thank you!
Megan sanchez
I tried this recipe for the first time tonight and it was delicious. This will be in my rotation for sure. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Kristyn Merkley
Yay! Love hearing that! Thank you so much for trying it & letting me know!