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.
These are literally so good. So many of these recipes claim they are easy and quick, yet are not. This truly was so simple and quick, and was sooooo good. This tastes like restaurant pasta. It is amazing, and it doesn’t feel heavy. Soooo good.
I used the sauce with cavatappi and it was delicious. Thank you.
Made this tonight and WOW! Both my kids (2 + 4 years) LOVED it and so did my husband & I. Highly recommend and will be making again!
Delicious! I added some diced ham and mixed veggies and made a one pot meal of it. ?
Simple to make and wonderful flavor with ingredients I always have on hand! This recipe has made it in our family favorite’s recipe binder!
Happy to hear that, Beth!! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Seriously so good! My whole family loved this dish, I will be making again soon.
Thank you! Super easy and tasty! Kid and hubby approved?
Isn’t there gluten in the pasta?
You’ll want to use gluten free pasta to make this gluten free.
Just made this for dinner tonight and it is awesome!!! An easy recipe to make and proud to know it was homemade and not out of a box!
Omg this is the best sauce to go with really any noodle!
So glad you enjoyed! :)
My whole family LOVED this! I made it with fettucine noodles as a side with apricot mustard pork chops. My daughter (15 months) at 2 or 3 servings. My pasta loving husband said it was “herby, but in a really good way” – which is high praise from him. Thank you for a quick go-to side or main dish that the whole family likes.
Yesss, so glad to hear it, Anna! Thanks for the feedback and recipe rating!
I wanted a quick, easy meal tonight, and this hit the spot. I added a cup and a half of frozen peas and about a cup and a half of ground ham steak…one pot meal!
Yummm – definitely sounds like it hit the spot! So glad you guys enjoyed!
This looks so yummy!! I am making honey mustard baked chicken thighs for dinner and was contemplating what to make as sides. I settled on a pasta and came across this gem of a recipe thanks to my good pal Google. I can’t wait to try it and will be attempting to pair it with your kale recipe as well! Can’t wait, wish me luck!! :)