Parsley Pasta with Parmesan - Easy Recipes Under $5 (2024)

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4.7 from 11 reviews

15 minutes

parsley

By:Pamela Reed

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Parsley Pasta with Parmesan recipe that takes 15 minutes to make and costs less than $4. Your entire family will like this fresh pasta dinner meal.

What can you cook with parsley?

The answer to the question “What the heck do I make with a bunch of parsley” I was asking myself while standing in the kitchen is this recipe!

You’ve been there. You buy fresh parsley because you need 1 tablespoon for a recipe and then the rest sits in the refrigerator. Well I’m here to help you out! First, freeze some pesto cubes, and then make this Parmesan Parsley Pasta!

Cheap Meal Under $5

This delicious parsley pasta meal is super budget friendly because it costs less than $4.00 total to make. It’s also a simple recipe for weeknights because it’s quick to make and throw on the table.

For this recipe you will need these simple ingredients:

  • 16 ounce box of rotini pasta
  • 1 bunch parsley
  • 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Tip!

#1: Have too much parsley? Here’s how to dry parsley in the microwave.

#2: Not a fan of parsley? You can easily swap out the parsley for basil if you prefer!

How to Make Parsley Pasta with Parmesan:

Boil your pasta according to package directions in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Drain the pasta and place back into pot until we’re ready for it.

Grab your bunch of beautiful parsley. If you’re like me, you hate when food goes to waste, so it’s recipes like this that get me excited to clean out my refrigerator!

You will be using most of the parsley (stems and leaves!) but you’ll want to cut off about 2 inches from the bottom so the recipe isn’t bitter tasting. More stems = more bitter, so lose 2 inches from the bottom. Keep the top section!

Parsley Pasta with Parmesan - Easy Recipes Under $5 (4)

Place parsley in food processor, along with broth, olive oil and lemon juice. Pulse until a creamy sauce has been made.

Pour parsley sauce and parmesan cheese into the pot with the pasta.

Mix to fully coat, adding salt and black pepper to taste. Once combined, serve and eat up!

Can I make this with spaghetti?

Absolutely! The recipe calls for rotini, but you can easily use another pasta such as spaghetti, ziti, rigatoni, farfalle, etc. Choose your favorite pasta!

Want to add some protein?

We prefer the recipe as is, but it’s easy to add in some meat if you prefer. Add in sautéed shrimp, shredded chicken or sweet Italian sausage into the pot.

It also makes a great side dish next to pork chops or rotisserie chicken!

I hope you love this budget friendly easy recipe!

Other Pasta Recipes You May Like:

  • Cheesy Skillet Lasagna
  • Butter Garlic Pasta with Broccoli
  • Cauliflower Pasta
  • Brussels Sprouts and Rigatoni
  • Pasta and Peas
  • Italian Sausage Pasta
  • Pea Shoots Pasta
  • Broccoli Pasta
  • Italian Pasta Salad
  • Homemade Egg Noodles
  • Cheap Dinner Ideas for $5 or less

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Parsley Pasta with Parmesan - Easy Recipes Under $5 (9)

4.73 from 11 reviews

Parsley Pasta with Parmesan

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Parsley Pasta with Parmesan recipe that takes 15 minutes to make and costs less than $4. Your entire family will like this fresh pasta dinner meal.

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1 16 oz box rotini pasta
  • 1 bunch parsley
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to box. Drain, put pasta back into the pot and set aside.

    Parsley Pasta with Parmesan - Easy Recipes Under $5 (10)

  • Cut the bottom of the stems off the parsley, about 2 inches from the bottom (too much parsley stems and it will taste too bitter) and discard. Keep the top portion of parsley and place in a food processor.

    Parsley Pasta with Parmesan - Easy Recipes Under $5 (11)

  • Add broth, olive oil and lemon juice to food processor and pulse until creamy.

    Parsley Pasta with Parmesan - Easy Recipes Under $5 (12)

  • Pour parsley sauce on top of hot pasta. Add Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of salt and pepper for taste. Stir until cheese is melted and pasta is coated in the parsley sauce.

    Parsley Pasta with Parmesan - Easy Recipes Under $5 (13)

  • Serve on plates and enjoy!

    Parsley Pasta with Parmesan - Easy Recipes Under $5 (14)

Video:

Course: Main Course

Keyword: parsley pasta, parsley recipes

Vegetarian Summer

Did you make this?I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram at @BrooklynFarmGirl and don’t forget to leave a comment & rating below.

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  1. Lisa Noble says

    I made this because I had those ingredients in my house, and need a quick side dish. Everyone loved it! I chose to serve it cold like a pasta salad. I made it exactly then added my own modifications. I also adding crumbled feta, a handful fresh chopped parsley, and a little extra olive oil. This is a foundation dish that you can really build on. LOVED IT.

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Parsley Pasta with Parmesan - Easy Recipes Under $5 (2024)

FAQs

How to jazz up boring pasta? ›

Simply cook chopped garlic cloves in a bit of warm olive oil (not hot!), and add cooked spaghetti (reserve some of the cooking water to add later if necessary). Stir to combine and finish off with a handful of fresh chopped parsley, and grated parmesan cheese. Easy peasy and so delicious!

What to do with a lot of fresh parsley? ›

Chop it up and add it to your favorite salads; blitz it into a sauce, like fresh chimichurri or mojo verde (Spanish green sauce); or stir it into a hearty grain bowl or marinated bean salad. You can make a flavorful compound butter to use on grilled salmon or roasted summer vegetables.

When to add parsley to pasta? ›

Cook your pasta according to package directions, drain in a colander and transfer to a serving dish To make the sauce; in a skillet heat olive oil. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Then add the parsley and remove from heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

What to put on pasta when you have no sauce? ›

Cheese is an excellent way to add flavor to your pasta without having to rely on sauce. Try mixing your angel hair pasta with goat cheese, and toss in sun-dried tomatoes to make an amazing meal with just a few ingredients. Garlic butter is a terrific way to season all types of noodles.

How do you pimp up pasta? ›

Garnish your pasta with a grating of lemon zest, some crunchy breadcrumbs or even a crumble of crispy bacon to add texture and taste. Herb it up. Experiment with lots of fresh herbs in your pasta dishes.

Is butter or olive oil better on pasta? ›

You can easily substitute olive oil for butter in most pasta recipes, especially ones that have lots of fresh vegetables. Choose recipes that are lightly dressed and avoid pastas with rich cream sauces (which require butter).

Can I use dried parsley instead of fresh in pasta? ›

Delicate, leafy herbs like parsley, tarragon, and chives are always superior when fresh, and should typically be avoided when dried since they don't add much flavor to a dish. They're also best when raw or cooked for just a few minutes.

Which parsley is best for pasta? ›

Italian Parsley

Bigger and broader leaves than Chinese parsley and is the parsley called for in most western style recipes. Works great with butter, lemon, or garlic. Commonly chopped fresh and sprinkled over pasta.

What can I coat pasta with? ›

Add 1 stick of unsalted butter to cooked pasta; toss well to coat. Mix in 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with more grated cheese and minced flat-leaf parsley.

What can I add to pasta to make it taste better? ›

Melt butter with garlic very slowly to avoid burning the garlic. Season with parsley, salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until well coated with butter.

How do you jazz up old pasta? ›

Spread your leftovers out evenly on a baking tray and bake at 350 for about 15 to 20 minutes, flipping once about halfway through. This will give you evenly heated pasta and some nice crispy bites of toasted deliciousness. To take this up a notch, add a little cheese on top. Yum!

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