Cheese Pasta
Simple cheesy pasta — pasta tossed with butter, garlic, cream, and lots of cheese. The 15-minute dinner that satisfies everyone. More than mac and cheese, less than fancy pasta. Use multiple cheeses for depth.
Prep Time
17 min
Cook Time
15 min
Servings
4
Calories
377 cal
🛠 Interactive Recipe Tools — Use them right here on this page
Smart Servings Scaler
- Pasta200 g
- Cheese1 cup
- Milk1 cup
- Olive Oil2 tbsp
- Garlic3 cloves
- Parmesan Cheese½ cup
- Basil1
- Black Pepper½ tsp
- Salt1 tsp
All quantities scaled automatically from 4 servings.
Ingredients
Makes 4 servings · Use the Servings Scaler above to adjust
- Pasta200 g
- Cheese1 cup
- Milk1 cup
- Olive Oil2 tbsp
- Garlic3 cloves
- Parmesan Cheese0.5 cup
- Basil1
- Black Pepper0.5 tsp
- Salt1 tsp
Instructions
- 1
Cook 1 lb of penne or rigatoni in heavily salted water for 1 minute less than the package time. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- 2
While the pasta cooks, heat 4 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook 30 seconds — should be pale gold, not brown.
- 3
Add 1 cup of heavy cream. Bring to a low simmer. Cook 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- 4
Off heat, add 1.5 cups of shredded sharp cheddar, ½ cup of grated Parmesan, ½ cup of shredded mozzarella, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, a pinch of nutmeg. Whisk until smooth.
- 5
Add the drained pasta to the cheese sauce. Toss to coat. Add pasta water by the splash if needed to loosen — the sauce should cling, not pool.
- 6
Finish with chopped fresh parsley or basil, a final grating of Parmesan, and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve immediately.
Watch how to make Cheese Pasta
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💡 Expert Tips
- 1.Three cheeses for depth. Sharp cheddar for flavor, Parmesan for umami, mozzarella for stretch. Single-cheese pasta is one-dimensional.
- 2.Off-heat for cheese. Adding cheese to a simmering pot causes it to split. Always off the heat.
- 3.Pasta water for emulsion. The starch creates the silky coating that turns separate ingredients into proper sauce.
- 4.Garlic gold, not brown. Brown garlic turns bitter. Pull off heat the moment it starts to color.
🔬 Why It Works
Cheese pasta is a comfort food classic that works when the cheese sauce is properly made (off-heat addition for smoothness) and the pasta is properly emulsified (pasta water ties everything together). The combination of three cheeses provides complexity that single-cheese pasta lacks. Cream provides body; butter provides richness; garlic provides aromatic depth.
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Nutrition Facts
Per serving (recipe makes 4 servings)
* Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Values are estimates.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (recipe makes 4 servings)
* Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Values are estimates.
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