Confession: I have to physically avert my eyes every time I pass the pasta sides packets in the grocery store.
You know the ones. They come in mouthwatering flavors like Creamy Chicken (a personal favorite of mine in college,) Butter & Herb (yes and yes), and Broccoli Cheddar (everybody’s favorite,) and are like, $.88 a packet. You can’t beat that with a stick!Â
What I’d like to beat with a stick, however, is the ingredient list and nutritional information that comes along with these unfortunately delicious side dishes. Let’s just say, there are healthier options – like making it yourself! Oh yes, ditch the packet and make your own creamy, crowd-pleasing pasta side for dinner tonight like Creamy Garlic Shells.
Watch How to Make It!
Creamy and ultra-garlicky, this simple little side dish comes together in about 15 minutes (including pasta cooking time) and the best part is that you control the ingredients that go inside.
Saute fresh garlic in a little bit of extra virgin olive oil and butter, thicken with flour (gluten-free if you need it,) then simmer with milk, chicken broth, and seasonings until thick and bubbly. Stir in cooked pasta and you’ve got a winner of a side dish to pair with dinner! That is to say, this is really good.
Start by cooking 8oz small pasta shells (or any small cut pasta) in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
Let the pot cool off the heat for several minutes then return it over medium heat and melt in 1 Tablespoon each butter and extra virgin olive oil. Add 2 minced garlic cloves then saute until light golden brown, 30 seconds, and then whisk in 2 Tablespoons flour, again, gluten free if you need it, and saute for another minute.
Next, slowly whisk in 3/4 cup each milk and chicken broth, season with salt and pepper, then switch to a wooden spoon and stir until the mixture is thick and bubbly.
Remove the pot from the heat then stir in 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 teaspoons dried parsley, and 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese.Â
Add the cooked shells back in then stir to combine. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
Scoop and serve next to the protein and vegetable of your choice, then dig in. I hope you love this easy, made-over, yummy pasta side dish recipe! Enjoy!
More Easy Side Dish Recipes
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic and Herbs
- Easy Garlic Butter Roasted Mushrooms
- The BEST Pasta Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Gluten Free Scalloped Potatoes
- Baked Potatoes
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Creamy Garlic Shells
Description
Creamy Garlic Shells are a quick and easy side dish recipe made with fridge and pantry staples. Tastes just like the store-bought package, but are funky ingredient-free!
Ingredients
- 8oz mini shells pasta (GF if needed)
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tablespoons flour (GF if needed)
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup milk (I used skim)
- salt & pepper
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
- 2 teaspoons parsley flakes
Directions
- Cook pasta in a pot of salted, boiling water until al dente. Drain then set aside. Let pot cool off the heat for several minutes.
- Return pot to stove over medium heat then add butter and olive oil. Once melted, add garlic then saute until light golden brown, about 30 seconds, being very careful not to burn. Sprinkle in flour then whisk and saute for 1 minute. Slowly pour in chicken broth and milk while whisking until mixture is smooth. Season with salt and pepper then switch to a wooden spoon and stir constantly until mixture is thick and bubbly, 4-5 minutes.
- Remove pot from heat then stir in parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and parsley flakes until smooth. Add cooked pasta then stir to combine. Taste then adjust salt and pepper if necessary, and then serve.
- Leave a comment and star rating if you loved the recipe! Thank you for considering!
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Brittany 03.07.2013
I absolutely LOVE your blog…a friend told me about it and I have been inspired ever since! I had ground beef that I needed to do something with before it expired and decided to do your Homemade Hamburger Helper and loved it :) I have already planned my list for the market on next weeks meals with a few of your recipes!! (I am a major planner too) :D So keep blogging and having adventures…because we can’t wait to hear about them :)
Iowa Girl Eats 03.07.2013
Thank you so much for the sweet feedback, Brittany! I really appreciate it!
Mer 03.07.2013
Does Ben have any interest in switching places with me at dinner, like, for a week or so, so that I can eat these delicious meals you make? He is SO lucky!
Yolanda 03.07.2013
This is my favorite way to prepare kale. It’s quick and easy. I’ve even eliminated the chicken broth and steam it in water.
Jess 03.07.2013
Yum – what is it about those little shell shapes that makes these creamy pasta dishes extra delicious? I hate to use them, but I do have a soft spot for those pasta packets – glad to have something to strengthen my resolve against them. ;)
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe 03.06.2013
This whole meal looks delish! Those creamy garlic shells are calling my name!
Mary Hansen 03.06.2013
Hahahaha! Your final pic of this amazing dish is an upside down peace sign!!
Cookbook Queen 03.06.2013
It just so happens that I have all the ingredients on hand to make these!! yay!!
April 03.06.2013
I’m dying right now for that plate. I am pregnant and on semi-bedrest, and tonight I was in so much pain I had to get drive thru for dinner (which grosses me out like you wouldn’t believe) for the kids and me (hubby is out of town). And now all I can think about is that plate of deliciousness you just planted in my head. I need something wonderful to replace the super gross El Pollo Loco that I ingested for dinner. Blech. I’m more sorry with every minute that passes.
Have you tried the baby kale from Costco to make that dish? I wonder if it’s too tender.
Iowa Girl Eats 03.06.2013
Don’t feel bad – it happens! Especially if you are on semi-bedrest, my goodness. Wishing you the very best! :)
April 03.11.2013
I finally made it tonight! My compromise was a rotisserie chicken and French bread from the grocery store (when I would normally make my own for both), and I made the noodles. Two pounds of noodles (I have 5 young kids we call the locusts because they devour everything in sight). They were yummy. The kids LOVED them. They’ve never had the packets, but now they can enjoy the deliciousness. They call them creamy noodles.
Kristen 03.06.2013
Looks incredibly yummy!! Do you have to massage the kale for this recipe or does the steaming take care of that?
Iowa Girl Eats 03.06.2013
Nope, the sauteing and steaming takes care of it!
Michelle @ Brown Eyed Baker 03.06.2013
LOVE this! I used to love when my mom would make those packet side dishes with dinner when I was in high school! Homemade is so much better :)
EmilyEhermillerdvm 03.06.2013
I am wondering about subbing something nondairy for the milk…is that possible?? I have had to eliminate dairy for my nursing son, but I would love to do this (and many other similar dishes) . Would almond or soy or rice milk ( or something else) work without compromising the flavor of the dish too much? Thanks so much for your time!
Iowa Girl Eats 03.06.2013
I have used almond milk in creamy sauces before and it worked out just fine. I haven’t tried it with this particular dish, but I imagine it would work! Let us know if you give it a try!
Jessica 03.07.2013
I made this last night right after you posted it on Facebook! I had all of the ingredients on hand, which rarely happens. It was awesome. I used almond milk (unsweetened, of course) and it turned out great. :)
Amanda 09.23.2013
I used coconut milk and it tasted great :)
Louisa 04.18.2014
I use unsweetened coconut milk. The type in the cartons. It works great! I like it better than almond milk when substituting for regular milk.
BTW love this recipe. I just mixed the sauce with rice and it is equally delicious!
Cheyenne 03.05.2015
I am dairy free my whole life and I am here to tell you coconut milk is way better than any of those. not like crack open a coconut and squirt juice everywhere kind of thing but go to the same spot as you get your almond milk and look for the alternative coconut milk. it also comes in cans, from places like thailand where the food prep standards are really high. sometimes I prefer the canned version for cooking and the tetrapack version just for drinking.
Becky @ Olives n Wine 03.06.2013
Cream + Garlic… Anything with those in the title catches my attention right away! I used to love those oh-so-good yet oh-so-bad-for-you Lipton packets in college :) I have convinced the hubs to grill steak tomorrow night and I am sure that I’ll be making this to go on the side!
Trisha 03.06.2013
Dude. I ate entire packages of Creamy Chicken Lipton Noodles after noon swimteam practice nearly every day during middle school summers. My husband also made meals of those things during his bachelor days, which means we’ll probably be fighting over this side side when I make it…stat!
jennyv 03.06.2013
My sister and I used to SPLIT a packet of the chicken flavored rice as a MEAL in middle school… Apparently, it’s cheap and easy and that’s all that mattered during summer break!
Sara 03.06.2013
I was seriously deprived as a kid…I have no idea what packets you’re talking about.
But this looks so delicious! And I have all the things! I’m going to switch around the menu a bit to try this tonight :)
Sonya 03.06.2013
Guilty for eating the pasta side packets. This particular side is a favorite of mine and my husband’s…we eat it nearly every week with baked fish. Cannot wait to eat this and leave the calories and sodium behind!
How about a dupe of the cheddar broccoli next? ;)
Iowa Girl Eats 03.06.2013
Sonya, give this recipe a try and see what you think! :) https://iowagirleats.com/2012/08/16/cheesy-broccoli-orzo/
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health 03.06.2013
Cheesy deliciousness! I love that method for cooking kale. I’m going to give it a try with veggie broth. I bet this meal gives your breath a nice kick! :)
Iowa Girl Eats 03.06.2013
Hahaha, it definitely does! ;)
Kristina 03.06.2013
I used to LOVE those packets when I was a kid!! sometimes nothing is better than a comforting bowl of pasta… yours looks WAY better than any packet, my dear!
Carol 03.06.2013
Yum!! Would I be able to substitute veg broth for the kale and the cream sauce?
Iowa Girl Eats 03.06.2013
Definitely!
Chris 12.02.2020
What does GF mean?
erin @hooleywithaz 03.06.2013
oh.my.gah. this might be dinner all weekend.