Creamy Milk Pasta One-Pot (Printer-Friendly)

Cozy pasta cooked in milk creating a rich, velvety sauce with minimal cleanup.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or rigatoni)

→ Dairy

02 - 4 cups whole milk
03 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
04 - 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Aromatics & Seasoning

05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
07 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
08 - Pinch of nutmeg (optional)

→ Garnish

09 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
10 - Extra Parmesan, for serving

# Method:

01 - In a large, deep skillet or wide saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
02 - Pour in the milk and bring just to a gentle simmer (do not boil).
03 - Add the pasta, salt, pepper, and nutmeg (if using). Stir well to prevent sticking.
04 - Cook, uncovered, stirring frequently, for 12–15 minutes or until the pasta is al dente and most of the milk has thickened into a creamy sauce. If the sauce thickens too quickly, add a splash more milk as needed.
05 - Stir in the grated Parmesan until melted and the sauce is silky. Adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - Remove from heat. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything happens in one pan, which means minimal cleanup and maximum satisfaction
  • The starch from the pasta naturally thickens the milk into restaurant style creaminess without any heavy cream
  • It comes together faster than delivery and tastes infinitely better
02 -
  • Stir frequently, especially toward the end, or the milk will scorch on the bottom and ruin the flavor
  • If the sauce thickens too fast, splash in more milk rather than water to maintain the creamy consistency
  • The sauce continues to thicken as it cools, so don't panic if it looks slightly loose in the pan
03 -
  • Use a wider pan rather than a tall pot to help the milk reduce and thicken more efficiently
  • Room temperature milk incorporates more smoothly, though cold milk works if you're in a hurry
  • Reserve a handful of cheese to sprinkle on top just before serving for the best presentation
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