Description
Pasta nights are always a win in our house, and this macaroni penne recipe is one of those meals that makes everyone happy without keeping me in the kitchen for hours. The creamy garlic parmesan sauce clings perfectly to the penne, and it tastes way fancier than the effort it takes to pull together.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 8 ounces uncooked penne
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 tablespoon flour
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup dry white wine (or chicken/vegetable broth)
- 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 cup heavy cream (whipping cream works too)
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook the penne until al dente, following package directions. Reserve a tablespoon of pasta water.
- About 10 minutes before the pasta is done, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sprinkle in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring often.
- Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (30 seconds).
- Pour in the wine (or broth) and lemon juice. Let it bubble for 30 seconds to 1 minute until reduced by half.
- Whisk in the cream until the flour has dissolved, then stir in the Italian seasoning. Cook for 3–4 minutes, until slightly thickened.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Toss in the drained pasta and stir until coated. Add pasta water if needed.
- Garnish with more parmesan and parsley if you’d like. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use freshly grated parmesan for the smoothest melt. A splash of reserved pasta water makes the sauce silky. Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or bacon for protein. Swap pasta shapes or use half-and-half for a lighter version. Leftovers can be stored up to 3 days in the fridge and reheated with a bit of cream or broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 95mg