Today’s recipe for Easy Gluten-Free Parmesan Noodles is one I’ve been wanting to share for a while as it’s long been one of my favorite “go-to” gfe recipes. When I learned that National Pasta Day was several days ago and then later that the whole month of October is National Pasta Month, I knew it was time!
Of course, if you asked Mr. GFE, he’d tell you that every month is National Pasta Month. He adores pasta dishes. He only has to see a package of pasta on the counter after a trip to the grocery store to get excited.
Before going gluten free, I relied quite a bit on Lipton Noodles and Sauce (and Lipton Rice and Sauce) products. They were easy and tasty and the perfect amount for the two of us, often even yielding leftovers.
Yes, they were pricier than making one’s own pasta dishes but I was willing to pay for the convenience of having these fairly “instant” side dishes on hand. Admittedly, I wasn’t really perusing the ingredients labels back then although I’m sure that in addition to any gluten-containing ingredients, those products likely had a long list of other ingredients that might not be considered optimal eating.
I just knew that adding one of these pasta dishes easily turned an entrée into a meal. And a tasty one at that.
Of course, those products went out the window when I went gluten free. Yes, over time similar gluten-free products came on the market but by then I had adapted a few gluten-full recipes for homemade noodles and sauce to be gluten free.
This Easy Gluten-Free Parmesan Noodles recipe is one of them. It’s really a very delicious side dish even though it’s very simple.
When you consider the ingredients, we shouldn’t be surprised though, right? I mean pasta, butter, Parmesan, garlic, and parsley. What’s not to love with that combination of ingredients?
You can also double the recipe and add in a protein source, like a small amount of chicken, turkey, or tuna, to make it a simple but filling main dish.
You could even add in a vegetable like peas or small pieces of broccoli to make a heartier and more appealing main dish. Of course, if you add in a lot of protein and/or veggies, you’ll most likely need to make more of the cheesy sauce—doubling or tripling the ingredients.
By the way, I have always had a major issue with the cheese and sauce clumping with this recipe until I read this tip from Giada De Laurentiis in Parade magazine:
“My grandfather taught me to grate Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese onto hot pasta before tossing it with the sauce. The cheese sticks to the pasta and the sauce sticks to the cheese, creating a perfectly delicious bite—every bite.”
How did I go all my life without knowing that trick? It makes a difference! Now any time that I’m making a pasta dish, I add the Parmesan, Romano, or Parmesan-Romano mix before adding the sauce.
I will admit that it’s still important to be using a hot pot or a warm dish when adding your ingredients to the pasta. If you add your warm pasta with cheese and sauce to a cold dish, you’re still going to get clumps—and as a result, a less than ideal pasta dish.
So, mix your drained, still hot noodles and other ingredients right in the pot you used to cook your noodles (as I did) or in a warmed serving dish. If I’m using a serving dish because company is present, I like to pour hot water into the serving dish and then dump it out and dry the dish before adding all the other ingredients.
Incidentally, if you’re eating grain free, you can absolutely use vegetable noodles instead of gluten-free pasta. Either zucchini noodles (aka zoodles) or sweet potato noodles would be wonderful in this recipe. I would definitely cook them before using them in this recipe though. (Wholesome Yum has a great article on making and cooking zucchini noodles.)
More Gluten-Free Pasta Dishes Worthy of Your Dinner Table
~ Easy and Good Gluten-Free Lasagna
~ Easy Pea-sy Cheesy Tuna Casserole
~ Homemade Hamburger Helper-Roni
~ Instant Pot Pasta with Meat Sauce
~ Saucy Cheesy Chicken Veggie Pasta Skillet Supper
Easy Gluten-Free Parmesan Noodles Recipe
This Easy Gluten-Free Parmesan Noodles recipe is a delicious side dish. Pasta, butter, Parmesan, garlic, and parsley. What's not to love? By the way, with an additional ingredient or tow, this recipe can be turned into a main dish. I drain the cooked pasta and return it to the hot pot before adding the cheese and other ingredients. If you wish to serve in a serving dish, warm the dish first by filling it with very hot tap water, letting the water sit a minute or two, and then draining and drying the dish.Easy Gluten-Free Parmesan Noodles
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
judee says
I get excited about pasta too! I love it just about any way it is served! but lately I’ve switched over to zucchini spirals because I don’t want the carbs. Not quite the same but I’m happy
Shirley Braden says
The good news is that you can sub in “zoodles” or “swoodles” in this recipe, Judee! 🙂
Shirley
Sharon says
I used to love those Lipton side dishes. So easy and tasty but yet who knows what was actually in them! This looks great and just as easy! I think I can try making this dairy free for my son using dairy free butter and vegan Parmesan cheese! Thanks Shirley!
Shirley Braden says
Sharon–I’m glad to know that someone else remembers them! It seems that some of them have been reincarnated as Knorr/Lipton sidekicks. No matter for us as they still contain gluten, of course. This recipe should work just fine when made dairy free. Have you tried nutritional yeast (sometimes called “noosh”), Sharon? I like using it in place of Parmesan or in addition to dairy-free cheese when I’m making dairy-free “cheesy” recipes.
Shirley
Leslie says
Who needs mixes when a few fresh, simple ingredients can make a dish like this? I love it!
Shirley Braden says
Hi Leslie–Welcome to gfe! Thanks so much regarding this recipe! I just saw your Mummy Bread—too cute and delicious, of course—and just had to share. 🙂
Shirley
Steve says
Buttered noodles with cheese and a bit of garlic is always my go to comfort food when I am feeling run down or having stomach stuff going on. Doesn’t get better than that for me for comfort food.
Shirley Braden says
First, Steve, it’s so great to see you, my friend! I’ve missed you! Hope all is going well. I remember you mentioning in the past how much you’ve loved that simple pasta combination. It really is one of the best comfort foods as you say. No need to go for the slightly more complicated—and heavier—mac and cheese. 😉
Thanks for stopping by!
Shirley