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.
jodie 10.16.2013
Looks amazing! Is there a reason you recommend small pasta?
Vicky 10.07.2013
This was absolutely divine! I used elbow mac because I didnt have any shells. Just the right amount of garlic!
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Abbey 08.16.2013
Very Good!!
kathi 08.04.2013
The pasta was awesome!!! Hubby loved it!! VERY easy to make!!!!
pammy c 07.27.2013
Needed an easy pasta recipe to feed to college kids here for the weekend, found this and took a chance on it. Delicious and easy! And as the front door opened an more kids came into the kitchen, every one of them commented, “Man, something smells really good!” Glad it was so easy and successful! Adding this to the regular rotation on our family meals, too. thanks!!!
Iowa Girl Eats 07.28.2013
So glad you all enjoyed! :)
Patrick 07.20.2013
Thank you!!! Been looking for a replacement to those “packets”.
Definitely going in the favorites now.
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Milster 06.17.2013
I loved this recipe! Tastes even better than the packaged & was a hit! Much more economical as I have a crowd living here short time.
Jennifer 05.30.2013
You don’t know this yet, but you’re my new best friend. :) I was in the need for a quick side and love love love the Knorr pasta sides. However, I didn’t have any and have been to the grocery store 3 times this week and was NOT going again. I googled homemade Knorr pasta sides and this recipe popped up. I used what I had on hand which meant egg noodles and Monterey Jack cheese. This was really good. Next time I will try with Parmesan since the jack is pretty mild. Thank you my new BFF!
Iowa Girl Eats 05.31.2013
Glad to help, friend! :)
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[…] Recipe […]
Nikki Howser 05.07.2013
Yuuum!! Just made this tonight! It was divine and the kids inhaled it :)
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[…] This is the first of two recipes of hers I will be posting in the next week. This recipe is for Creamy Garlic Shells. As a person who has eaten those noodles and sauce packets for dinner on multiple occasion, I was […]
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Mama B @ My Edible Journey 04.21.2013
This looks delicious. Those packets sure are scary, with all of the junk in them. Thanks for sharing!
Tina 04.12.2013
YUM! Made this tonight for 3 kids, a baby, my hubby and my parents. It was a huge hit. I doubled the recipe and we still barely had enough! My parents are Asian and usually don’t like pasta OR cheese (what is WRONG with them?! – they prefer rice) but my dad could NOT stop dishing himself more pasta! My mom must have given me 10 compliments – to the point where I was wondering if I’m usually a horrible cook that she was shocked that I actually made something good ?!?! Anyway – thanks for sharing. I’m definitely going to try the kale next. I didn’t have any on hand, so I made a roasted cauliflower and garlic dish, but the kale would’ve been so much better.
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Carla 03.31.2013
I just made this. It was so easy and delicious! Thanks!