15-Minute Creamy Garlic Butter (Print Version)

Silky garlic butter sauce coats tender ditalini with cream and Parmesan for a quick, satisfying meal.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 10.5 oz ditalini pasta
02 - 8 cups water
03 - 1 tablespoon salt

→ Sauce

04 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
06 - ½ cup heavy cream
07 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
08 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
10 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
11 - Zest of ½ lemon (optional)

# How To Make:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add ditalini and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water, then drain.
02 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
03 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and reserved pasta water, heating gently until the sauce simmers softly.
04 - Add cooked ditalini to the skillet and toss well to coat evenly with the sauce.
05 - Sprinkle in Parmesan, black pepper, and salt. Stir until the sauce is smooth and creamy, adding extra pasta water if needed to loosen.
06 - Remove from heat. Stir in parsley and lemon zest if desired. Adjust seasoning and serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan and parsley.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's genuinely ready in fifteen minutes, which means you can have a restaurant-quality dinner on even your most chaotic nights.
  • The sauce clings to every tiny piece of pasta in the most satisfying way, no watery disappointment or dry noodles.
  • Just a handful of ingredients means this lives in your pantry already, waiting for the moment you need something comforting fast.
02 -
  • Don't skip reserving pasta water—that starchy liquid is what transforms a separate sauce and pasta into one cohesive dish, and it's the cook's secret weapon.
  • Keep the heat gentle once the cream is added; high heat can cause the cream to break and the butter to separate, leaving you with a grainy mess instead of silky smoothness.
  • Taste before serving and adjust salt and pepper; the seasoning should feel balanced enough that you notice the garlic and butter more than anything else.
03 -
  • If you want extra richness without making it heavier, a tablespoon of mascarpone stirred in at the end creates an almost velvety texture that feels luxurious.
  • Red pepper flakes are your secret weapon if you want a gentle heat that complements the garlic and doesn't overpower the delicate cream sauce.
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