Description
Garlic Butter Pasta: Creamy, comforting pasta dish with garlic, butter, and Parmesan cheese. Quick, easy, and crowd-pleasing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225g) pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine work best)
- 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter
- 6–8 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced (about 3 tablespoons)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ teaspoon salt, plus more for pasta water
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- ⅓ cup (30g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons pasta cooking water (reserved)
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients Begin by slicing your garlic thinly and uniformly to ensure even cooking. Chop fresh parsley and measure out your butter and other ingredients before starting. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil, then add 1 tablespoon of salt—the water should taste like seawater.
- Step 2: Cook the Pasta Add your pasta to the boiling water and cook until 1 minute shy of the package directions for al dente. Set a timer to avoid overcooking! About 2 minutes before pasta is done, start your sauce. Remember to reserve about ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- Step 3: Create the Garlic Butter Base In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter until it begins to foam. Add sliced garlic and optional red pepper flakes, stirring frequently. Allow the garlic to infuse into the butter for 2-3 minutes until it becomes fragrant and just starts to turn golden at the edges. The butter will begin to take on a nutty aroma—this is developing the depth of flavor in your garlic butter pasta.
- Step 4: Combine Pasta and Sauce Using tongs, transfer the slightly undercooked pasta directly from its cooking water into the skillet with the garlic butter. Add 2 tablespoons of reserved pasta water and increase heat to medium. Toss continuously for about 1 minute, allowing the pasta to finish cooking in the sauce and absorb those flavors.
- Step 5: Emulsify and Finish Remove the skillet from heat. Add the grated Parmesan, tossing vigorously to create a smooth, silky sauce that coats every strand. If the sauce seems too thick, add another tablespoon of pasta water. Finish with fresh parsley, freshly ground black pepper, and an extra sprinkle of Parmesan. Your glorious garlic butter pasta is ready to serve immediately.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (about 2 cups cooked pasta)
- Calories: 550 calories
- Sugar: 1 gram
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 grams
- Saturated Fat: 13 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 67 grams
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 17 grams
- Cholesterol: 55 mg