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Plate of creamy mushroom pasta with garlic and parmesan sauce

Creamy Mushroom Pasta

A cozy, creamy pasta dish that combines earthy mushrooms with a rich sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 550

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Cooking Essentials
  • 8 to 10 oz pasta, fettuccine, penne, or spaghetti Choose your favorite type of pasta.
  • 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil, or a mix of both Use as per your preference for flavor.
  • 12 to 16 oz mushrooms, sliced Use a mix of your favorite mushrooms (button, cremini, shiitake, or oyster).
  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small shallot or half an onion, finely chopped Optional but adds flavor.
Sauce Ingredients
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half and half Use half and half for a lighter sauce.
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup grated parmesan Plus more for serving.
  • Salt and black pepper To taste.
  • Optional: a squeeze of lemon, chopped parsley, chili flakes For additional flavor.
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Instructions
 

Cooking Pasta
  1. Start the pasta water. Salt it well so it tastes like the sea. Cook pasta until it is just tender. Before you drain, save about 1 cup of pasta water.
Cooking Mushrooms
  1. While the pasta cooks, heat a big pan over medium-high heat. Add butter and/or olive oil. Toss in the mushrooms and spread them out. Try not to stir constantly. Let them sit so they can brown.
  2. After about 6 to 8 minutes, when the mushrooms look golden and have shrunk, add the onion or shallot if using. Cook for 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook about 30 seconds, just until it smells good.
Making the Sauce
  1. Turn the heat down to medium. Pour in the cream and stir. Let it gently bubble for 2 to 3 minutes so it thickens a bit.
  2. Add parmesan and stir until it melts. If it looks too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water. If it looks too thin, simmer for 1 more minute. Aim for glossy, not gluey.
Combining Pasta and Sauce
  1. Add the drained pasta straight into the pan. Toss, toss, toss. Add a bit more pasta water if needed so the sauce coats everything.
  2. Taste and adjust flavors. Add salt, lots of black pepper, and if desired, a squeeze of lemon to brighten it up. Finish with parsley and extra parmesan.
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Notes

For guests, consider adding extra parmesan and black pepper right at the end for a burst of flavor.