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.
Stephanie 08.07.2014
Made this last week according to the recipe. It was really good, although next time I think I’ll taste it before adding the garlic powder because it was too garlicky for my boyfriend. I will be making this again soon, pasta and garlic are two of my favorites. Might just have to eat it all myself ;) Thanks!
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delia 07.25.2014
This recipe was soooo good and so easy! I even made a version with Gluten Free pasta, delicious!!
Cassie 07.20.2014
This pasta side dish was incredible! Thank you for sharing! It was so good that I decided to feature it on my blog :)
Aloha,
Cass
http://floatingendless.blogspot.com/
Sue 07.09.2014
Robert liked them!
Zully H. 07.07.2014
I have tried to mimic the garlic sauce in those packaged shells forever! I too have always loved them and the price is hard to fight especially when I’m couponing!
Anyhow, I made this tonight with penne and it turned out great. Thanks for the recipe, I will be using it often :)
Jordyn 06.30.2014
I made these, and although they are okay, I don’t know what I did wrong! I didn’t have parsley flakes, but that shouldn’t effect the thickness, right? It wouldn’t get thick enough, and it didn’t taste very cheesy or garlicky, I used the exact measurements!
Kristin 07.07.2014
Hi Jordyn, I’m sorry to hear that! The only thing I can think of is that maybe you could let the sauce cook longer next time so it gets a bit thicker?
Erin @ Texanerin Baking 05.22.2014
I just made this again and realized I hadn’t left feedback. Sorry! Love this recipe. So yummy! Definitely my go-to recipe when I’m craving something from a packet (which is sadly often!) Thanks so much. :)
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Adam @ The Food Agency 04.16.2014
This looks like a very easy and quick meal to make, I will get our chef to wip something like this up for my staff when they have to stay back late. Thanks for shareing :)
Angee 04.14.2014
Great side dish. However, I think it was a bit too garlicky (is that a word?!) I think I will omit the garlic powder next time around.
Cassie 03.30.2014
This was incredible! I loved the garlic flavor and the sauce was just perfect. This put a smile on my family’s face! Thanks so much :)
Erin @ Texanerin Baking 03.23.2014
I pinned this last night or in the morning and can’t stop thinking about it. Oh. My. Gosh.
This looks PERFECT! I only discovered those pasta packets when I moved to Germany and got lazy with cooking. Such a terrible guilty pleasure! I have something already planned for tomorrow’s lunch but Tuesday? Sooo making this!
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Chelsea 02.19.2014
I just made this because I was dying for some mac and cheese. It’s good but I’m not drooling over it. I followed everything to a T besides adding an extra small clove of garlic. It tastes a bit like flower to me. Good but I’m stuck on the boxed mac and cheese, as bad as it is for you.
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