School Lunch Ideas | Creamy White Pasta Recipe
A Quick and Simple School Lunch Idea – a Simple, Quick, and Flavorful Creamy Pasta Recipe!
This creamy white pasta recipe is one of the simplest and most delicious pasta recipes; It’s made in no time, yet it’s creamy, light, and so flavorful. I make it at least once a week as a light family dinner and I usually pack the leftovers as a school lunch; the kids love it!
Why you’ll love this recipe?
Quick and simple: This is a low effort recipe with 5 min preparation and 20 minutes cooking time.
Versatile and customizable: This is a great pasta base recipe; you can modify the ingredients to your liking. You can also add any veggies or protein you like.
A great school lunch idea: This recipe is one of my big time favorite school lunch ideas.
What ingredients do I need for this recipe?
1 cup uncooked pasta
1 medium sized onion (finely chopped)
5 small sized garlic cloves (finely chopped)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Dried oregano
Dried thyme
Red chili flakes
¼ cup heavy cream
¾ cup milk
Salt (to taste)
Black pepper (to taste)
How to make this Easy Creamy White Pasta Recipe?
Fill a pot with 3 cups of water, once boiling add your pasta with a teaspoon of oil to keep your pasta from sticking. It takes from 8 to 12 minutes; it depends on your chosen pasta shell (check the pasta package for exact directions). Once your pasta is cooked, drain and rinse under cold water then put your pasta aside.
In a pan, add the olive oil. Once it’s hot enough, add in the chopped onion and garlic. Let it cook until soft and translucent (your onion should not turn brown).
Add the dried herbs and mix to combine. Let it cook for few seconds.
Add milk and let it boil until it thickens a bit. Lower the heat, add the heavy cream and let it cook for a bit.
Finally add the cooked penne pasta to the creamy boiling mixture, sprinkle some salt and pepper, then mix everything to combine.
To adjust the texture; add more heavy cream if your pasta is a bit dry or let it cook for a few more minutes if it’s still a bit watery.
Serve hot and Enjoy!
The Easiest School Lunch Ideas – Creamy White Penne Pasta!
I usually pack pasta instead of burgers or sandwiches as a school lunch. This simple creamy white pasta recipe is a good way to slip one or two green veggies into your kids lunch; I usually opt for broccoli or peas. This simple basic recipe is great as it is, but I love how I can easily modify it to suit my own taste and the ingredients I have on hand. I often pack it in a lunch box, with some shredded cheese and I add any leftover protein, steamed or roasted veggies from the day before.
Helpful Tips and Variations:
Which pasta should I use? I’m a huge fan of penne pasta and especially for this recipe, but feel free to use any other shape you like best.
How can I replace the heavy cream? When making a creamy white pasta, I prefer to use milk and heavy cream or Béchamel sauce.
Can I add cheese to this recipe? Of course, cheese is always a great idea and especially with pasta recipes. You can mix your pasta with grated Parmesan cheese while it’s still on flame or simply sprinkle some shredded cheese on your plate before serving.
Can I add some protein? Of course you can easily turn this recipe into a chicken penne pasta. If you’re not a fan of chicken, you can add ground beef, chopped baked salmon, or tuna. I’ve tried this recipe with all these proteins and it tastes wonderful.
Can I add veggies? Sure! You can add any veggies you like, such as peas or broccoli, along with some protein for a complete meal.
How can I store and reheat leftovers? I often store the leftovers in a lunch box for the following day or I put them in a container and place it in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. To reheat, I prefer to transfer the pasta to a heated pan and I add a little cream or cheese to get the creaminess back. You can simply add a little milk; it also works just fine.
How can I serve this Creamy White Pasta?
I like to serve this creamy white pasta recipe for lunch or dinner alongside grilled chicken, roasted veggies, or cheesy garlic bread; it’s insanely flavorful. It also serves as one of the greatest school lunch ideas; it’s simple, filling, and flavorful.
School Lunch Ideas – Creamy White Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked pasta
- 1 medium sized onion finely chopped
- 5 small sized garlic cloves finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon red chili flakes
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup milk
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fill a pot with 3 cups of water, once boiling add your pasta with a teaspoon of oil to keep your pasta from sticking. It takes from 8 to 12 minutes; it depends on your chosen pasta shell (check the pasta package for exact directions). Once your pasta is cooked, drain and rinse under cold water then put your pasta aside.
- In a pan, add the olive oil. Once it’s hot enough, add in the chopped onion and garlic. Let it cook until soft and translucent (your onion should not turn brown).
- Add the dried herbs and mix to combine. Let it cook for few seconds.
- Add milk and let it boil until it thickens a bit. Lower the heat, add the heavy cream and let it cook for a bit.
- Finally add the cooked penne pasta to the creamy boiling mixture, sprinkle some salt and pepper, then mix everything to combine.
- To adjust the texture; add more heavy cream if your pasta is a bit dry or let it cook for a few more minutes if it’s still a bit watery.
- Serve hot and Enjoy!
