These One Pot Creamy Garlic Noodles are as easy as they are delicious! No creams or large amounts of butter, making this meal a winner all-around!
One Pot Creamy Garlic Noodles
These one pot (well.. technically one “pan”) creamy garlic noodles are a HUGE hit with my family. We have made them at least once a month for the last several months using all sorts of variations. My kids are crazy about them and request them all the time (and I am happy to oblige because they are SO easy)! This recipe doesn’t use heavy cream or large amounts of butter, but it tastes JUST as good as recipes that do. Cooking the noodles in the chicken broth and milk is like magic. No draining and only ONE POT to clean! A total win-win.
What noodles are best?
For this recipe we like to use linguini noodles. They are thick enough to absorb the sauce without getting too heavy. You could also use spaghetti noodles, fettuccini noodles, or even egg noodles. Bowtie pasta or rotini would be fun to try as well. Try to avoid anything thinner than spaghetti. They will cook way too fast and then get clumpy. No matter what noodle you use, keep checking it until it’s cooked through. You can’t really go by package directions because it is being simmered at a lower heat.
Adding Chicken:
To make this a full meal, just add a little chicken. I love adding grilled chicken but you can add baked, shredded, or pan-fried. To keep it a true “one pot” meal, pan frying the chicken is the way to go. First, season the chicken with Italian seasoning and cook it up in the same skillet you want to cook the noodles in (before cooking the noodles). Then, sauté the chicken until it is cooked most of the way through and remove from the pan, place on a plate, and cover. Wipe the pan out (be careful because the pan will be hot) and make the noodles as per the recipe below. Lastly, add the chicken after a few minutes into the noodles simmering and follow the rest of the recipe as directed.
Adding Vegetables:
If you want to add vegetables, add them 10 minutes or so before serving. You can add veggies like broccoli, peas, asparagus… you get the picture. You can make these noodles as a full meal or as an easy side dish — totally up to you!
More Add In Possibilities:
- Cooked garlic shrimp (I like using the garlic shrimp from this recipe)
- Rotisserie chicken
- Smoked sausage
- Peas
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Roasted vegetables
Tips For Making Garlic Noodles
- Keep it to a simmer – If you cook these on too high of a heat, the noodles will cook too fast and won’t absorb the liquid as well
- Add liquid – if you noodles look like they are getting too thick, just keep adding a splash or milk of broth to keep the consistency
- Add other flavors – Boost the flavor by adding cajun seasoning, oregano, Italian seasoning, or lemon pepper
Love One-Pot meals?
Try these delicious One-Pot recipes!
- Chicken Teriyaki Bowls: Chicken, vegetables, and rice cooked in a delicious teriyaki sauce.
- One Pot Jambalaya Pasta: All of the flavors and seasonings of Jambalaya combined with pasta.
- One Pot Thai Peanut Pasta: This features shrimp or chicken, noodles, vegetables, seasonings, and peanuts all cooked together in a light, creamy peanut sauce.
- Creamy One Pot Tortellini with Sausage: A flavorful meal that can be made in under 30 minutes. The sauce is amazing!
How to make One Pot Creamy Garlic Noodles
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp. butter divided
- 4-5 cloves garlic minced
- 28 oz chicken broth (3 3/4 cups)
- 2 1/2 c. milk add more if needed
- 1 lb. linguini
- kosher salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tsp. basil
- 2/3 c. Parmesan cheese
- 4 c. broccoli optional
- 2 chicken breasts grilled and cut into strips (optional. See notes above on how to make chicken part of the "one-pot" meal if you don't want to grill)
Instructions
- In a large, 5-6 quart skillet, heat 2 Tbsp. butter over medium heat. If you don't have a large skillet, a stock-pot works well, too. Add garlic and cook for about a minute.
- Add chicken broth, milk, remaining 2 Tbsp. butter, pasta noodles, salt and pepper, and basil. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer stirring occasionally for 16-20 minutes or until noodles have cooked through. If you are wanting to add broccoli, add it after about 10 minutes into the simmering process.
- Stir in Parmesan when noodles are finished cooking and add a little milk if necessary if necessary to reach your desired consistency.
