Heavenly Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta Recipe For Pasta Lovers

Pasta lovers swoon over this decadent garlic butter pasta that effortlessly blends rich, velvety textures with bold, irresistible flavors.

A simple yet indulgent dish featuring creamy garlic butter pasta combines classic Italian comfort with home-style cooking.

Weeknight dinners transform when you add this incredibly satisfying recipe to your culinary repertoire.

Each forkful promises a luxurious blend of silky noodles coated in a smooth, aromatic sauce that tingles the taste buds.

Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs elevate this dish from ordinary to extraordinary.

Fragrant garlic and smooth butter create a harmonious symphony of taste that beckons you to the kitchen.

Prepare to savor every mouthwatering bite of this restaurant-quality meal crafted with love and simplicity.

Garlic Butter Pasta Ingredients Unwrapped

• Pasta: Choose high-quality pasta that holds sauce well, like spaghetti or linguine, ensuring even cooking and maximum flavor absorption.

• Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves provide intense, aromatic depth and create the signature base for this quick sauce.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Adds subtle heat and vibrant complexity to balance the rich buttery sauce.
• Black Pepper: Freshly ground pepper brings sharp, warm notes that complement the garlic's intensity.
• Salt: Enhances overall seasoning and balances the dish's rich flavors.

• Butter: Creates a silky, luxurious sauce that coats pasta beautifully and delivers rich, comforting flavor.
• Parmesan Cheese: Optional topping that adds nutty, salty dimension and creamy texture.
• Fresh Parsley: Bright, herbal garnish that provides fresh contrast to the rich sauce.
• Pasta Water: Starchy liquid helps bind sauce and ensures smooth, clingy texture.

Gear You’ll Use for Garlic Butter Pasta

• Large pot: Essential for boiling pasta with enough water.
• Colander: Needed to drain pasta after cooking.
• Large skillet: Perfect for creating garlic butter sauce and mixing pasta.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring garlic and mixing pasta with sauce.
• Measuring cup: Helpful for reserving pasta water.
• Cutting board: Used for chopping fresh parsley.
• Sharp knife: Needed for mincing garlic and chopping parsley.

Pasta Prep: Garlic Butter Style

• Boil Water and Pasta

Heat a large pot with salted water. Drop pasta and cook until tender. Save a splash of pasta water before draining.

• Create Butter Sauce

Warm a skillet and melt butter over medium heat. Toss in minced garlic and cook gently until it releases a fragrant aroma and turns light golden.

• Sprinkle Spice

Add red pepper flakes for a hint of heat if you want extra zing.

• Combine Pasta and Sauce

Transfer drained pasta into the skillet with garlic butter. Stir and swirl until every strand gets coated. Splash in reserved water to make the sauce silky and smooth.

• Season and Finish

Dust with salt and black pepper to enhance flavors. For extra deliciousness, shower with grated Parmesan and chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Boost the Flavor of Garlic Butter Pasta

• Pasta Water Magic: Always save some pasta water before draining; it's a secret weapon for creating silky, clingy sauces that perfectly coat every noodle.
• Garlic Intensity Control: Adjust garlic amounts based on personal preference – use less for a subtle flavor or more for bold garlic lovers.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Swap butter with olive oil or vegan butter to make the dish completely plant-based and suitable for dairy-free diets.
• Protein Power-Up: Transform this simple pasta into a complete meal by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for extra protein and substance.
• Herb Explosion: Experiment with fresh herbs like basil, oregano, or thyme to bring exciting new dimensions to the classic garlic butter sauce.

Ideas for Serving Garlic Butter Pasta

• Pasta Plate Paradise: Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese generously over the hot pasta, creating a creamy and salty layer that melts into the garlic butter sauce.
• Herbal Harmony: Chop fresh parsley or basil leaves and scatter them on top for a bright, fresh burst of color and a light, aromatic touch that cuts through the richness.
• Side Dish Companions: Serve alongside a crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette or roasted vegetables like zucchini and cherry tomatoes to balance the pasta's rich, buttery flavor and add nutritional variety.
• Wine Pairing Perfection: Complement the garlic butter pasta with a chilled glass of crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, which will enhance the dish's delicate garlic and butter notes.

Keeping Garlic Butter Pasta Fresh Longer

• Fridge Fresh Tactics: Store leftover pasta in an airtight container for 3-4 days, keeping the garlic butter sauce coating the noodles to prevent drying.
• Quick Reheat Magic: Warm gently in a skillet with a splash of pasta water or olive oil, stirring consistently to restore the sauce's original creamy texture.
• Batch Prep Strategy: Cook larger quantities of pasta and garlic butter sauce on weekends, creating fast weeknight meal options that save time and reduce kitchen stress.
• Smart Ingredient Handling: Keep fresh garlic, butter, and Parmesan cheese in sealed containers in the refrigerator, ensuring maximum flavor and quality for spontaneous cooking moments.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 360 kcal

Servings: 4

Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta Recipe

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4.6 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Creamy garlic butter pasta delivers comfort in minutes with simple ingredients. Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs elevate this classic Italian-inspired dish you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 12 oz (340 g) spaghetti or favorite pasta
• 4 tbsps (60 g) unsalted butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
• ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• ¼ cup (60 ml) pasta water
• Salt, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Boiling Preparation: Fill a large pot with water, generously salt, and bring to a vigorous boil over high heat for optimal pasta cooking.
2. Pasta Cooking: Immerse pasta into the boiling water, preparing to cook until achieving a perfect al dente texture according to package instructions.
3. Liquid Preservation: Carefully reserve a quarter cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining the pasta, which will later help create a smooth sauce.
4. Butter Transformation: Melt butter in a spacious skillet over medium heat, allowing it to become golden and aromatic without scorching.
5. Flavor Infusion: Add finely minced garlic to the melted butter, stirring continuously to develop a rich, golden color and release its intense fragrance, then incorporate red pepper flakes for a gentle warmth.
6. Sauce Integration: Transfer drained pasta directly into the skillet, thoroughly coating each strand with the garlic-butter mixture, using reserved pasta water to achieve a silky, harmonious texture.
7. Seasoning Finalization: Adjust the dish with salt and freshly ground black pepper to personal taste, ensuring a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
8. Elegant Presentation: Serve immediately while steaming hot, elegantly garnishing with grated Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley for a refined culinary finish.

Notes

• Preserve Pasta Water: Save the starchy liquid before draining; it’s a secret weapon for creating a smooth, silky sauce that helps ingredients bind perfectly.
• Prevent Garlic Burning: Maintain medium heat and constantly stir chopped garlic to achieve a golden color without bitter, scorched flavors that can ruin the dish.
• Master Al Dente Technique: Cook pasta just until tender with a slight bite; overcooking leads to mushy texture and destroys the pasta’s elegant traditional character.
• Customize Heat Level: Adjust red pepper flakes quantity to match personal spice tolerance, creating a personalized flavor profile that suits individual preferences.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 53 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg