15-Minute Creamy Garlic Butter Ditalini (Printable)

Comforting pasta with garlic butter sauce, cream, and Parmesan, ready in just 15 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 10.5 oz ditalini pasta
02 - 8 cups water
03 - 1 tablespoon salt

→ Sauce

04 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
06 - ½ cup heavy cream
07 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
08 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - ¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
10 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
11 - Zest of ½ lemon (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add ditalini and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water, then drain.
02 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
03 - Lower heat and stir in heavy cream and reserved pasta water. Bring to a gentle simmer.
04 - Add drained ditalini to the skillet and toss to coat evenly.
05 - Sprinkle in Parmesan, black pepper, and salt. Stir until sauce is smooth and pasta is well coated. Add extra pasta water if sauce is too thick.
06 - Remove from heat. Stir in parsley and lemon zest if using. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan and parsley as desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Ready in 15 minutes flat, no complicated techniques or endless ingredient lists to worry about.
  • The sauce clings to every tiny tube of pasta, so you actually taste the garlic and butter in every bite instead of it pooling at the bottom.
  • Feels indulgent and restaurant-worthy despite being the kind of thing you make on a Tuesday night when you're exhausted.
02 -
  • Reserve pasta water before you drain—this starchy liquid is what transforms a separated, greasy sauce into something silky that actually clings to the pasta.
  • Don't add the cream to a boiling hot pan or it might break and look grainy; keep your heat at medium or medium-low and let everything warm through gently together.
03 -
  • If you want extra richness without adding more cream, stir in a spoonful of mascarpone at the very end—it's luxurious and adds depth.
  • Red pepper flakes are your friend if you want heat; add them to the butter with the garlic so they infuse the whole dish rather than just sitting on top.
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