Description
This one-pan pasta wonder cooks everything together in a creamy Parmesan sauce that coats tender bow ties and crisp asparagus perfectly. No draining required – the pasta soaks up all that garlicky goodness as it simmers.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 ounces bow tie pasta, uncooked
- 16 ounces vegetable broth
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 8 ounces fresh asparagus, woody ends removed and cut into thirds
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Melt butter in large sauté pan over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent.
2. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Pour in bow tie pasta, vegetable broth, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
4. Bring liquid to a simmer, then immediately cover pan and reduce heat to low.
5. Check pasta package for al dente cooking time and subtract 4 minutes. Cook covered on low for this amount of time (usually 6-8 minutes).
6. Remove lid and add asparagus pieces. Stir gently to nestle them into pasta and liquid.
7. Replace lid and continue cooking for remaining 4 minutes.
8. Remove lid – most liquid should be absorbed with just a bit remaining in pan.
9. Pour in heavy cream and stir in Parmesan cheese. Mix everything together well.
10. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, as cheese melts and sauce comes together.
11. Turn off heat and let pan sit for 5 minutes undisturbed – pasta will continue absorbing sauce and it will thicken.
12. Stir once more and serve immediately.
Notes
Measure pasta and broth exactly – too much pasta makes it dry, too much liquid makes it soupy.
Don’t lift lid during cooking except to add asparagus – steam is needed to cook pasta.
The 5-minute rest after cooking is when sauce thickens perfectly.
Break asparagus by hand to find natural tender point.
Use large enough pan so pasta cooks in single layer.
Freshly grated Parmesan melts much better than pre-shredded.
Add cooked chicken or shrimp to make complete meal.
Leftovers keep 3-4 days refrigerated – add splash of cream when reheating.
Not suitable for freezing due to cream-based sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian