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.
MagRuth 05.18.2021
Just got done making this, love it! Love the garlicky flavor and creaminess. And I love I had everything in the cupboard, just simple ingredients!! Thank you!
Kristin 05.21.2021
Yes! Such a delicious yet simple dish. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. :)
Kim 05.12.2021
Thanks so much for sharing this easy recipe! These shells look just delicious. I might even make it as a main course instead of a side dish. Yum!
Kristin 05.13.2021
Oh yeah – been there done that! ;) Enjoy, Kim!!
Laura 05.09.2021
Delicious! This is a perfect accompaniment to any savory main dish, and even better because you can control the ingredients. If you want a little kick, a shake of red pepper flakes works well. This is a keeper!
Kristin 05.10.2021
So glad you loved it, Laura! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Greg Hankins 05.03.2021
Our VERY FAVORITE packaged product was lemon rice. We prepared as a side dish it with salmon and peas. And after combined all three for a tasty to-go office lunch. I’ve tried, but failed, to prepare a similar lemon rice dish from scratch. Any ideas?
Kristin 05.05.2021
Sounds awesome!! What’s the brand of the lemon rice?
Amin Brady 04.26.2021
I added WAAAAAAAY more cheese than what was suggested. Pretty tasty.
Sophia 04.24.2021
Love this recipe! But not certain how much water to use for boiling the pasta and to make the sauce? I know it will make a difference so want it to turn good. Thank you!
Jackie Muddle 04.17.2021
This is just what I’ve been looking for in a side dish. Turned out well, delicious!
Kristin 04.19.2021
Thrilled to hear that, Jackie! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Samantha Ryals 04.15.2021
I made this dish tonight for my family and it was a HIT!!!! Even my picky eater loved it. Such an easy and great side dish! Thank you!!
Kristin 04.19.2021
Love hearing that, Samantha! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Crysti 03.15.2021
GIRLL THIS IS SOO GOOD . Im not the best cooker but this was surprisingly easier than I expected . I didnt have chicken broth so I just used some better than bullion chicken base and added that too taste . I also didnt have garlic powder so I added 2 more minced garlic cloves to it and it was very good . I did have to add a little water and some more milk because it was wayy to thick but it turned out bomb !! thanks for sharing your recipe I will for sure use this again .
Kristin 03.16.2021
LOVE to hear it, Crysti!! So glad it was a hit and repeater recipe. :)
Debbie 01.18.2021
What gf shells are you using?? I cannot find decent tasting gf shells. My go-to is Barilla gf pasta but also use Le Veneziane gf (I buy online). By now I have figured out the at the key is to rinse gf pasta to get a lot of the corn/ rice taste out. Still looking for shell shaped though. Thank you
Kristin 01.19.2021
Hi Debbie! This recipe is from 2013, prior to me having to go gluten free. That said, I love Tinkyada brown rice shells!
Jeanette 01.07.2021
So good, definitely recommend it! I saved and printed the recipe. Thanx for posting it!
Kristin 01.08.2021
Thanks so much for your comment and recipe rating, Jeanette!
Kellie Wolke 01.05.2021
I made this for my lunch this morning and absolutely loved it! I think I’ll add just a bit more salt next time, but it’s perfect as written.FYI, for four servings, it was 324 calories per serving. That’s pretty fantastic for pasta. I’ll definitely be making this a lot.
Michelle 12.07.2020
Oh my this is so good and better than the box. Thank you
Mellie 09.20.2020
This was very flavorful and easy to put together. The only negative I can see here is me kicking myself for not trying this sooner?
Laura 08.29.2020
This recipe is AMAZING!! I try and make mist things from scratch and this pasta side is SO satisfying and easy. My kids love it. One of my kids has a dairy allergy so I have made this in original form, but also with ripple and earth balance instead of milk and butter, plus omitted the parmesean and it was still excellent. Family fave either way.
Stephanie 08.24.2020
This was a huge hit with hubby and two adolescent boys! Hubby said it looked like something out of a food magazine.
Rachel 07.27.2020
I made this and it turned out fantastic! I was definitely looking to find a home made solution to the noodle side dish dilemma… thank you so much! Great recipe, quick and easy, and turned out fabulous
Helen Boula 07.26.2020
I was just going over some of your recipes which I find very nice and they look absolutely delicious and I’m going to make one today and I will let you know how it comes out
Anne O'Neill 06.23.2020
This was great! Very simple but had a big impact. Will definitely make again!
Juanita 06.13.2020
VERY good!! Comfort food indeed, for a stay-at-home Saturday!