Creamy Parmesan Garlic Angel Hair Pasta

Angel hair pasta is another word for Capellini (capelli d’angelo) pasta, which means “little hairs” in Italian. The very long thin strands of pasta cook quickly and are lighter in texture. This is why this pasta dish pairs well with garlic butter sauce or cream.

Angel hair alfredo pasta can be made in the instant pot too! Here is how;

• Stir together the broth with all the seasonings right in the instant pot.
• Break the pasta in half and lay it on top (DO NOT STIR.)
• Close and seal the lid. Select High Pressure and set for 3 minutes. Depressurize for 10 minutes.
• Release the pressure and stir in the parmesan cheese and cream!

Note: Add an additional 1/2 cup of water to the broth to ensure the burn signal from turning on. You can also add additional seasoning like 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

Angel hair pasta takes anywhere from 2-6 minutes to cook. However, some brands may vary depending on the diameter and thickness. Barilla angel hair pasta takes up to 8 minutes to cook, so, it is best to follow the package cooking guide when making this dish.

The ingredients for this simple pasta recipe are few but very good! To make the best sauce for angel hair use fresh parmesan cheese along with garlic and even herbs. It will make a difference!

• Angel Hair pasta- goes by different names. Select thin Italian pasta like Vermicelli or Capellini.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil- is best in a dark glass bottle.
• Fresh Garlic- press and crush your own garlic, it has a much better flavor.
• Chicken broth- use bouillon powder with water as a replacement.
• Fresh Parmesan Cheese- is much fresher than pre-grated parmesan cheese.
• Simple Seasonings- salt and pepper is all you need, however, if you are not using a broth you will need to add more salt. Feel free to stir in 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning.

Depending on how you serve this, parmesan angel hair pasta can be dinner or served as a side dish to chicken or other proteins. Even if you make this as is, it will still feed the crowd well.

• Spinach and Sausage- wilt 4 oz of spinach and add 8 oz of your favorite sausage.
• Shrimp scampi- sauteed shrimp in garlic butter sauce and lemon juice with white wine.
• Mushrooms and Tomato- freshly diced tomatoes and sauteed mushrooms.
• Herb and butter- add lots of dried herbs, like parsley and oregano to a melted butter sauce. Garnish with cherry tomatoes.
• Bacon and Chicken- bacon bits or leftover grilled chicken would make great add-ins!
• Asparagus and Shrimp- steam or oven roast asparagus and add in thaw and ready to use cooked shrimp.
•  Zucchini and Red Bell Peppers- pan-sear your favorite garden vegetables.
• Mozzarella and Prosciutto- add fresh mozzarella cheese and Italian ham!
• Three Cheese Blend- use a blend of Asiago, Reggiano, and fontina cheese.
• Snap peas and parmesan- you can use regular frozen peas for extra nutrition!

Angel hair pasta alfredo is a one-pot dish that does not take long to cook! Here’s how to make it homemade!

1. First, heat a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Drizzle in one tablespoon of olive oil and the crushed garlic. Cook until fragrant (about 30 seconds.)
2. Then, stir in the chicken broth, salt, and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil.
3. When the water is at a rolling boil add the angel hair pasta (broken in half.)
4. Reduce the heat to low-medium heat and simmer the pasta covered for 6 minutes.
5. When the broth has evaporated and the pasta is al dente remove it from the heat.
6. Stir in the heavy cream and freshly grated parmesan cheese.
7. Garnish with herbs.
8. Serve.

 Tip: reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water to adjust the creaminess of your pasta sauce at the end.

Thin angel hair pasta cooks within 6 minutes! If don’t have other types of thin pasta on hand, just add an additional 1/4 cup of water for thicker noodles and follow the cooking time according to their package instructions.

If your pasta looks too watery, remove the lid and boil over high heat until most of the liquid evaporates. Then stir in the cream and parmesan cheese.

To make angel hair pasta with shrimp or chicken add 12 oz of cooked frozen shrimp that have been thawed and 12 oz of cooked chicken breast meat. Enhance the flavors by making a shrimp scampi butter sauce and cajun seasoning for the chicken!

This pasta goes fast, but if you have any leftovers they reheat great! Leftover angel hair pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you are reheating creamy chicken angel hair pasta, reheating time will vary.

To reheat pasta: microwave in 30-second intervals until hot. You could also throw them into a buttered pan and heat them covered over medium heat until warm.