No Heavy Cream? Make This Easy Creamy Pasta Instead

Creamy pasta is one of those meals that is easy to love: warm, comforting, quick to make, and requiring very little effort. But what happens when you open the refrigerator and realize there is no heavy cream? Fortunately, that does not mean you have to change your dinner plans.

You can make rich, creamy pasta without cream using a simple combination of milk, cheese, and a little pasta water. The starchy water left behind after cooking the pasta helps the sauce cling to every bite while giving it a smooth, silky texture.

Creamy Pasta Without Cream

Ingredients:

• 9 oz. (250 g) pasta
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup grated mild melting cheese, such as mozzarella or cheddar
• 2–3 tablespoons grated Parmesan, optional
• About ½ cup reserved pasta water
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• Pinch of nutmeg, optional

Directions:

Cook the pasta in a pot of salted water according to the package directions until it reaches your preferred doneness. Just before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn.

Add the flour and stir it into the butter for about 30 seconds. Gradually pour in the milk, stirring constantly to create a smooth sauce without lumps.

Cook for several minutes over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the sauce begins to thicken.

Reduce the heat and add the grated cheese and Parmesan, if using. Stir until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.

Season with salt, black pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg, if desired.

Add the cooked pasta directly to the skillet and toss until evenly coated. Gradually add a little of the reserved pasta water as needed until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.

Don’t Skip the Pasta Water

The pasta water is one of the most important parts of this recipe. As pasta cooks, it releases starch into the water. That starch helps the sauce cling to the pasta and can loosen a sauce that has become too thick while keeping it creamy.

So before draining your pasta, get into one simple habit: save a small cup of the cooking water first. It can make all the difference between an ordinary sauce and a beautifully silky one.