Creamy Garlic Shells are a quick and easy side dish that pairs with just about any dinner! Made from fridge and pantry staples, these shells taste just like store-bought pasta packet sides, but are much healthier, and just as easy.
“Great recipe. Taste just like the packaged noodles but without all the additives. Served as a side with chicken parmigiana.”
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 cozy and mouthwatering flavors like Creamy Chicken (a personal favorite of mine in college), Butter & Herb (yes and yes), and Broccoli Cheddar (everybody’s favorite). Plus they’re like, $.88 a packet. You can’t beat that with a stick!
What I’d like to beat with a stick is the ingredient list and nutritional information that comes along with these unfortunately delicious side dishes.
Luckily it’s a cinch to ditch the packet and make Creamy Garlic Shells at home. This easy, crowd-pleasing pasta side dish pairs with just about any dinner!
Watch How to Make It
Easy Pasta Side Dish
Creamy and ultra-garlicky, this side comes together in about 15 minutes (including pasta cooking time) and the best part is you control the ingredients that go inside.
Saute fresh garlic in a little bit of butter, thicken with flour, 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.
How to Make Creamy Garlic Shells
Start by cooking small pasta shells (or any small cut pasta) in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, place a medium / small-sized pan over medium heat then melt butter inside. Add freshly pressed or minced garlic cloves then saute until very light golden brown — be very careful to not burn the garlic!
Sprinkle in flour then whisk while cooking for 30 seconds. I use gluten free flour, but all-purpose flour is fine if you don’t need to eat gluten free.
Slowly pour in chicken broth then milk (whatever you’ve got in the fridge for drinking) while whisking to create a smooth sauce.
Then, season with garlic powder, dried parsley, salt, and pepper. Turn the heat up slightly then cook while stirring with a spatula until the mixture has thickened, 4-5 minutes. Turn the heat down as necessary to maintain a gentle bubble.
Last step for the sauce is to stir in freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Add the cooked shells into the pot then stir to combine. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
Let the shells cool and thicken for 5 minutes then scoop and serve next to the protein and vegetable of your choice.
I hope you love every bite of this easy, homemade, yummy pasta side dish recipe – enjoy!
More Easy Side Dish Recipes
- Creamy Parmesan-Garlic Orzo
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Green Beans with Bacon
- Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic and Herbs
- Easy Garlic Butter Roasted Mushrooms
- The BEST Pasta Salad
- Healthy Mashed Potatoes
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Gluten Free Scalloped Potatoes
- Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
- 8 oz mini shell pasta
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
- 2 Tablespoons gluten free flour, or AP flour if not GF
- 3/4 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup milk, any kind
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
- slightly heaping 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Directions
- Bring a medium-sized pot of water to a boil then add a small palmful of salt. Add the pasta then cook until al dente. Drain then set aside.
- Meanwhile, place a small to medium-sized pot over medium heat. Add the butter then, once melted, add the garlic. Saute while stirring until the garlic is very fragrant and the smallest bits are just barely golden brown — do not overcook / burn the garlic. Sprinkle in the flour then cook while whisking for 30 seconds.
- Slowly pour in the chicken broth and milk while whisking to create a smooth sauce then add the dried parsley flakes, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and then whisk to combine. Turn the heat up slightly then switch to a spatula and cook while stirring constantly until the mixture has thickened, 4-5 minutes, turning the heat down if necessary to maintain a very gentle bubble. Add the parmesan cheese then stir until smooth.
- Turn off the heat then add the pasta to the pot with the sauce and stir to combine. Taste then add salt and pepper if necessary. Let the pasta sit for 5 minutes to thicken slightly then serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
I made these last night and they were delisious! I too am a fan of the noodle packets but I’m really trying to buy less processed food! I made this recipe as written and the whole family loved it. I’ve also made your Cheesy broccoli orzo YUM.
Now if you will take a swing at the Chicken noodles packet, that would be wonderful as those were my faves!
Found your recipe on Pinterest and tried it last night. I had some half and half in the fridge from another recipe and used that instead of milk. Delicious. Thank you for sharing! Going to check out some of your other recipes, for sure.
This was sooooo good. I added some cooked, chopped chicken breast in the end and used macaroni noodles. Will definitely make again!
Hey, there’s nothing wrong with chicken fat! It’s also called “schmaltz” and is necessary for amazing matzo ball soup. :)
I made these creamy garlic shells last night for dinner. I made 16oz. of medium shells and doubled the sauce. I used 2 cups half and half and 1 cup skim milk instead of the chicken stock and skim milk. Absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to have the leftovers for lunch today. Mmm!!
Just made this as a side dish for dinner and ate WAY too much of it! So yummy. Maybe I really can give up the packets ;-)
It looks wonderful. Healthy pasty, with garlic one of my favorite ingredients. Good for keeping the immune system healthy, not to mention keeping the werewolves at bay :)
I’m not a fan of parmesan cheese. Do you think mozzarella cheese would work?
Wow, this was so good. Made it for dinner tonight. Great quick meal with lots of flavor.
Thank you for the recipes. I did the steamed kale tonight and it came out delicious (brain kept saying BACON BITS DO IT LIKE MOM USED TO MAKE) but I’ve been trying to eat healthier.
just made this last night…it came out GREAT. and it was SO easy. wonderful side dish…thanks for sharing :)
How cool! I would love to try that.
OMG! I just made your creamy garlic shells and they soooooooooooooooooo good! It really tastes like something in a restaurant. I LOVE IT! I read your blog this weekend and have already made the kale twice! Thank you for your recipes! I look forward to trying out more!