Rich, creamy, garlicky—and made with ingredients you probably already have. This is the kind of dinner that feels a little fancy without requiring fancy-dinner money.
Serves: 4
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Estimated cost: About $8–$10 total
Estimated cost per serving: About $2–$2.50
Ingredients
12 oz spaghetti, linguine or fettuccine
3 tablespoons butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1½ cups milk
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Salt, to taste
½ cup reserved pasta water, as needed
Chopped parsley, optional
Directions
Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30–60 seconds, just until fragrant.
Sprinkle in the flour and whisk continuously for about 1 minute.
Slowly pour in the milk while whisking. Cook for 3–5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce begins to thicken.
Reduce the heat and stir in the Parmesan, Italian seasoning and black pepper until smooth.
Add the drained pasta and toss until completely coated. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if you want a thinner, silkier sauce.
Taste, add salt if needed, and finish with parsley and a little extra Parmesan.
💰 A Frugal-ish Tip
Skip the heavy cream.
Milk + a little flour gives you a creamy sauce without buying a carton of heavy cream for one recipe. And if you've got half a box of spaghetti sitting in the pantry? Use it. This recipe does not care whether your noodles are aesthetically correct. 😂
Make It a Meal
This is also a great clean-out-the-fridge dinner. Add whatever needs to be used:
Chicken → leftover rotisserie chicken works beautifully
Broccoli → toss it into the pasta water for the last few minutes
Spinach → stir it directly into the sauce
Mushrooms → sauté them with the garlic
Peas → frozen is perfectly fine
Bacon → because sometimes frugal-ish outranks frugal
Leftover Makeover
If you only have one or two servings left, add some chicken and vegetables the next day rather than making another full dinner. A splash of milk while reheating helps bring the sauce back to life.
