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A bowl of creamy penne pasta with garlic, parmesan, and fresh parsley.
Print Recipe

Creamy Penne Pasta

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 850kcal

Ingredients

  • 16 oz penne pasta
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 tablespoon all -purpose flour
  • 1.5 cups heavy whipping cream
  • 0.5 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta until al dente according to package instructions, reserving 0.5 cup of pasta water before draining.
  • While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
  • Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 60 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  • Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute to create a roux, stirring constantly to prevent clumping.
  • Slowly pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, whisking continuously to ensure a smooth texture.
  • Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  • Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
  • Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the Parmesan cheese until completely melted and the sauce is glossy.
  • Add the drained penne to the skillet and toss vigorously to coat, adding reserved pasta water 1 tablespoon at a time if the sauce is too thick.
  • Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.