That Viral Ditalini Pasta Recipe
This viral Ditalini Pasta recipe features tender ditalini pasta cooked directly in flavorful chicken broth with garlic, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy buttery sauce. It’s a quick and comforting skillet dish perfect for an easy weeknight meal, delivering rich and savory flavors in a simple one-pan preparation.
- Author: Emma
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
For the Pasta and Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic paste
- 1¼ cup ditalini pasta (175g, uncooked)
- 2 cups chicken broth (plus up to 1 additional cup if needed)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (finely grated)
- ¼ cup heavy cream (plus ¼ more if desired)
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- Black pepper (to taste)
- Fresh parsley (minced, for garnish)
- Heat garlic in olive oil: Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of garlic paste to a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until the garlic becomes fragrant and begins to brown, which helps develop a rich base flavor.
- Add ditalini pasta: Stir in 1¼ cup of ditalini pasta to coat it evenly with the garlic and oil, ensuring each piece is flavored from the start.
- Pour in chicken broth and salt: Add 2 cups of chicken broth, making sure it just covers the pasta. Sprinkle in ¼ teaspoon salt and stir frequently to prevent the pasta from sticking to the pan, cooking until the broth is mostly absorbed and the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes.
- Incorporate cheese, cream, and butter: When the pasta is cooked but the broth hasn’t completely evaporated, stir in ½ cup Parmesan cheese, ¼ cup heavy cream, and 2 tablespoons salted butter until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy and slightly thickened.
- Season and garnish: Adjust seasoning with additional salt and black pepper to your taste. Garnish with freshly minced parsley. Serve immediately to enjoy the creamy sauce at its best and prevent it from breaking.
Notes
- Use fresh garlic paste or finely minced garlic for best flavor.
- Add extra chicken broth if the pasta absorbs the liquid too quickly before it’s fully cooked.
- For a richer sauce, add an extra ¼ cup of heavy cream as desired.
- Serve immediately to prevent the sauce from separating.
- Substitute Parmesan with Pecorino Romano for a sharper taste.
Keywords: ditalini pasta, creamy ditalini, one pan pasta, garlic pasta, quick Italian dinner