Garlic Butter Pasta: The Ultimate Guide to a Delicious & Easy Recipe
A simple yet flavorful Garlic Butter Pasta recipe that combines al dente pasta with a rich garlic butter sauce, fresh parsley, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect as a quick weeknight meal or a base for adding shrimp, chicken, or vegetables.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
Optional Additions
- Shrimp
- Chicken
- Vegetables (broccoli, spinach, etc.)
Instructions
- Prepare Garlic: Mince the garlic cloves finely to ensure the flavor disperses evenly in the butter sauce.
- Melt Butter & Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the garlic becomes fragrant and lightly golden. Be careful to avoid burning the garlic. Once done, remove the skillet from the heat.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta of your choice (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine) and cook according to the package directions until al dente.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining the pasta, reserve about 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta water to help loosen the sauce later.
- Drain Pasta: Drain the pasta in a colander but do not rinse it, to retain the starch that helps the sauce cling.
- Combine Pasta & Sauce: Return the skillet with the garlic butter sauce to low heat. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and gently toss to coat the pasta evenly with the butter and garlic.
- Add Pasta Water: Gradually pour in the reserved pasta water, about 2 tablespoons at a time, tossing continuously until the sauce reaches your desired creamy consistency.
- Add Parsley & Parmesan: Stir in the chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. If you like a bit of heat, add the optional red pepper flakes at this time.
- Season: Taste the pasta and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your preference.
- Toss & Serve: Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated and the sauce is creamy. Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and parsley.
Notes
- For a protein boost, add cooked shrimp or chicken along with the pasta when tossing in the skillet.
- Vegetables like steamed broccoli or sautéed spinach make great additions to add color and nutrition.
- Be careful not to burn the garlic as it can turn bitter and affect the flavor.
- Do not rinse pasta after draining to keep the starch on the noodles, which helps the sauce stick better.
- You can swap unsalted butter for olive oil for a lighter version, although the flavor will differ.
- Adjust the amount of reserved pasta water for your preferred sauce consistency.
Keywords: Garlic Butter Pasta, Easy Pasta Recipe, Quick Dinner, Vegetarian Pasta, Italian Pasta
