Description
This Garlic Butter Pasta recipe offers a quick, flavorful, and comforting meal featuring al dente pasta tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese. It’s easy to customize with optional additions like shrimp, chicken, or vegetables, perfect for a simple yet impressive dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Base 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 they release maximum flavor into the butter.
- Melt Butter & Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden, being careful not to burn it. Once done, remove the skillet from heat.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until it reaches al dente texture.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining the pasta, scoop out about 1/4 cup of the starchy pasta water and set aside. This helps in loosening and combining the sauce later.
- Drain Pasta: Drain the cooked pasta using a colander but do not rinse it, keeping the starch intact for better sauce adherence.
- Combine Pasta & Sauce: Place the skillet with the garlic butter back on low heat. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with the butter and garlic mixture.
- Add Pasta Water: Gradually pour in the reserved pasta water, about 2 tablespoons at a time, while continuously tossing the pasta, until the sauce reaches your desired creamy consistency.
- Add Parsley & Parmesan: Stir in the freshly chopped parsley and the grated Parmesan cheese to the pasta. If desired, sprinkle in red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Season: Season the pasta with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to your taste preferences.
- Toss & Serve: Toss everything together thoroughly until the pasta is well coated and creamy. Serve immediately garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and parsley for a bright finish.
Notes
- Do not burn the garlic while sautéing as it will turn bitter.
- Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency; it helps bind the sauce and pasta.
- Do not rinse the pasta after cooking to retain the starch necessary for the sauce.
- Optional protein or vegetables can be added by sautéing separately and mixing in at the end.
- Use fresh parsley and freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: garlic butter pasta, easy pasta recipe, creamy garlic pasta, Italian pasta dish, simple dinner, garlic butter sauce
