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Home » Garlic Parmesan Pasta

Garlic Parmesan Pasta

December 21, 2017 by Debi 8 Comments

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Man, this Garlic Parmesan Pasta is seriously amazing. Like, it’s creamy and delicious and stuff. And the best part? It’s super easy to make, like no effort at all. And, it has this incredible flavor that’s all garlicky and complex, but not too overpowering. It’s just the perfect combination of flavors, you know? It’s like the ultimate comfort food.⁠
⁠
Oh, and by the way, Garlic Parmesan Pasta makes for a fantastic meal or side dish. I mean, it’s simple and all, but don’t underestimate its awesomeness.⁠
⁠
But hey, if you wanna go all out, you can totally add some steamed broccoli, green peas, shredded chicken, or even slices of sausage to make it a proper meal. I’m telling you, it’s like next-level deliciousness. Oh, and personally, I’m a fan of throwing in some veggie sausage links too. Can’t go wrong with that.⁠

Garlic Parmesan Pasta is so good. Creamy and delicious. Easy to make, comes together in just a few minutes. Full flavored, and garlicky. Complex, but not too much garlic – it’s a great balance of flavors! Perfect comfort food.

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Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.

A bowl of pasta in a creamy sauce with a serving spoon.

Recipe Notes

½ lb of orzo is half of the box of orzo. I just eyeball the half of the box when I pour it in. A little more orzo or a little less isn’t going to make a huge difference either way.

If you want to simply pour the whole box in and not have to worry about splitting the box you could, just make sure to use a big pot and double the rest of the recipe.

The recipe card below has an easy slider you can use to increase the amount of the orzo to 1 lb. You’ll find that slider on the servings area.

I like to use garlic powder in my recipes because it doesn’t seem to give my husband heartburn issues.

Also, I like the combination of both fresh and powdered garlic for a little bit more of a complex flavor.

Garlic Parmesan Pasta - If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that people love garlic and cheese! Oh, and pasta.

Orzo pasta

Some of my other great orzo recipes include Broccoli Au Gratin Rice-a-Roni, Orzo with Balsamic Tomatoes and Basil, Rosemary Orzo Soup, and One Pot Carrot Orzo.

Garlic Parmesan Pasta - perfect for family dinners

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a small dish of garlic parmesan orzo in front of the full serving dish.
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Recipe

This Garlic Parmesan Pasta is so good. Creamy and delicious. Easy to make, comes together in just a few minutes. Full flavored, and garlicky. Complex, but not too much garlic – it’s a great balance of flavors! Perfect comfort food.

Garlic Parmesan Pasta

Debi
This Garlic Parmesan Pasta is so good. Creamy and delicious. Easy to make, comes together in just a few minutes. Full flavored, and garlicky. Complex, but not too much garlic – it’s a great balance of flavors! Perfect comfort food. The recipe box has an easy slider you can use to change the servings.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 431 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic pressed or minced
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 cups vegetable broth
  • ½ lb orzo pasta
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup half & half
  • thyme leaves or chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large pot. Add the garlic and garlic powder and stir, for 1-2 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant. Add the butter to the garlic, and stir until melted. Add salt, pepper, and vegetable broth. Raise the heat to high and bring to a boil.
  • Once it’s at a rolling boil, add the orzo, and cook according to the package directions, about 9-10 minutes. Most of the liquid will be absorbed at this point. Turn the heat off, and stir in the Parmesan until completely melted. Mix in the half & half. Cover, and allow Garlic Parmesan Pasta to sit for 5 minutes. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh herbs and more fresh pepper if desired.

Notes

½ lb of orzo is half of the box of orzo. I just eyeball the half of the box when I pour it in. A little more orzo or a little less isn’t going to make a huge difference either way.
If you want to simply pour the whole box in and not have to worry about splitting the box you could, just make sure to use a big pot and double the rest of the recipe. The recipe card has an easy slider you can use to increase the amount of the orzo to 1 lb. You’ll find that slider on the servings area.
I like to use garlic powder in my recipes because it doesn’t seem to give my husband heartburn issues.
Also, I like the combination of both fresh and powdered garlic for a little bit more of a complex flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 431kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 18gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 1293mgPotassium: 191mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 822IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 311mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

Keyword garlic, parmesan, pasta
Tried this recipe?Mention @LifeCurrents or tag #LifeCurrents!
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Filed Under: Budget, Lunch, Main Dish, Pasta, Side Dishes, Weeknight meals Tagged With: Cooking, dinner, Food, garlic, Meatless Monday, parmesan, pasta, recipe, unprocessed, vegetarian

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about debi

ABOUT DEBI

Hello! I’m Debi, the girl behind Life Currents where I write about mainly healthy vegetarian dishes. My husband eats meat, so occasionally I share some of his dishes as well. And, I’ll share tasty treats and projects that we do. Read more...

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kayle (The Cooking Actress)

    January 2, 2018 at 10:29 am

    I really need to use orzo more! This pasta looks absolutely delicious!

  2. Traci

    January 7, 2018 at 3:08 pm

    I’m always up for orzo! And this sounds like a dish I would devour! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  3. Sarah

    January 7, 2018 at 5:28 pm

    This sounds absolutely scrumptious and I LOVE that you use orzo in the recipe, my favorite!

  4. JENNIFER BROWN

    January 7, 2018 at 6:56 pm

    This dish looks divine! I’ll have to sub out the orzo with either cauliflower rice or spaghetti squash for a gluten free option, but can’t wait to try it!

  5. Kaitie

    January 7, 2018 at 7:02 pm

    Oh wow! Those pictures are beautiful and that food looks absolutely amazing. A total treat for a large crowd or a lovely dinner for two!

  6. Sandi

    January 7, 2018 at 8:14 pm

    How fun to make a dinner with rice…my kids will love this!

  7. Debra C.

    October 27, 2018 at 10:22 am

    5 stars
    Orzo pasta is one of my favorites, I love all of the combinations you can make with this meal too – perfect side or main dish!

  8. Michaela Kenkel

    October 30, 2018 at 7:40 pm

    5 stars
    When orzo is done well, it is my favorite!! I think that you have the market on fantastic orzo recipes here!

5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Hi! I’m Debi, the girl behind Life Currents, where I write about mainly healthy vegetarian dishes with some great desserts and other goodies mixed in! Read More >>>

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