This creamy penne pasta recipe is a super quick and simple dish that's ready in about 20 minutes! Great for a meatless main course or side.
A piping hot bowl of this creamy garlic penne recipe can be on your table in as long as it takes to boil and cook the pasta. It uses ingredients you're likely to have on hand already. My kinda weeknight meal!
Love penne? Try my Penne alla Vodka Recipe, this Chicken Penne Pasta, or my Baked Penne.
This sauce is pretty straightforward to make. You start by melting some butter in a skillet, then you add flour (make a roux), and then the garlic, wine (or chicken/veg broth) is added in and cooked down until it's somewhat thickened. At that point, you add the cream and Italian seasoning in and continue cooking until it's thickened up some more. Once the sauce has reached your desired thickness a few minutes later, you take the pan off the heat and stir in the parmesan cheese, and then add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss until coated.
Recipe notes & tips:
- This is a pretty basic garlic cream sauce, so you can definitely add more seasonings if you feel like it. You need a decent amount of salt in cream sauces (or else they can be a bit bland), so don't be shy. Taste and adjust!
- I recommend grating your own parmesan cheese. The powdered stuff is no comparison! I always keep a block in my fridge and use my Microplane to grate it.
- I don't recommend subbing the cream with a lower fat alternative as the sauce may curdle and/or not thicken as well.
- The tiny amount of lemon juice helps the sauce taste a little less one-dimensional.
- You could add some cooked chicken or shrimp to this sauce.
- Feel free to swap out the penne for another shape of pasta if you wish.
- If the sauce gets too thick, add in a splash of the hot pasta water to thin it out. Keep in mind that cream sauces thicken up more as they cool.
What to serve with creamy penne?
Try garlic bread/knots or a side salad (try my Easy Caesar Salad Dressing).
You may also like:
- Quick & Easy Alfredo Sauce
- Easy Creamy Tomato Pasta
- White Wine Cream Sauce for Ravioli
- Creamy Garlic Spinach Orzo
- Easy Creamy Lemon Pasta
Questions about this creamy penne pasta recipe? Talk to me in the comments below!
Creamy Penne Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked penne
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 tablespoon flour
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken/veg broth
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Chopped parsley optional, to taste
Instructions
- Boil a salted pot of water for the pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions.
- When the pasta is about 10 minutes away from being done, add the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. Once it melts, sprinkle the flour in and cook for about 1 minute, stirring fairly often.
- Add in the garlic, followed by the wine (or broth) and lemon juice. Let it bubble until it's reduced by half (about 30 sec - 1 minute).
- Whisk in the cream so the flour dissolves completely, then stir in the Italian seasoning. Cook it for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened up to your liking.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese and take the skillet off the heat. Season with salt & pepper as needed (I am generous with both).
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss until coated (I like to add a tablespoon or so of the pasta water to the sauce prior to draining it, especially if it's become a tad too thick). Garnish with more parmesan and a bit of chopped parsley if you like. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Serves 2-4 depending on how hungry people are/what else you serve it with.
- This is a very simple garlic cream pasta sauce. You can definitely jazz it up more by adding additional seasonings if you wish.
- I don't recommend subbing the cream for a lower fat alternative. It may not thicken the same, so you may need to adjust cooking time/add more flour.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Lorena says
Absolutely delicious, as good, if not better, as any Penne I have had in any Italian restaurant. That’s saying something, as I have eaten in some of the best up and down the California coast, especially San Francisco. Natasha never disappoints in her flavors.
Natasha says
Aww thanks so much!! I'm so happy you liked it!
Betty says
I love this recipe. Easy to add seasonings and great to finish with bacon and extra Parmesan. I appreciate your sharing this!
Miranda @ Salt & Lavender says
Wonderful to hear, Betty! So glad you liked it!
Molly says
I looked up quick and easy meals to make for dinner while my husband is out of town. My picky 8 year old who NEVER eats dinner is on his second serving of this pasta. It’s so good and easy.
Natasha says
Well that's fantastic to hear!! 😀 Thanks for letting me know!
Kym says
Easy & Tasty dish, which I prepared with sausage & broccoli..
Thankfully I had all the ingredients on-hand..
Natasha says
Awesome!!
Melba says
I made this and it was sooooo yummy but i did not have italian seasoning, so i subbed italian dressing instead... thank you for sharing
Natasha says
You're welcome!!
Stasha Simon says
Would this recipe freeze well?
Natasha says
Hi! I don't think so, unfortunately. Creamy sauces don't reheat too well (they often separate), and the pasta itself will likely go a bit puffy/soggy.
Sam says
Delicious and easy! Perfect comfort meal. Always love your recipes, Natasha! Thank you 🙂
Natasha says
I'm so happy you enjoyed it (and the other recipes). Thank you, Sam! 😀
Cristal says
I’ve never left a review on a food blog before but I just have to say you’ve really helped me to level up my pasta game! I love how simple and easy to follow your recipes are. They serve as a great foundation to be served as is or built upon.
I made this one tonight and, inspired by some of your other recipes, added bacon and grilled chicken seasoned with ranch mix. It really hit the spot.
I also regularly make your creamy tomato pasta recipe and love the tortellini with butter, mushrooms and crispy sage.
Natasha says
That makes me so happy. I really appreciate you taking the time to write a review... it helps us food bloggers (and our readers) out! 🙂