Italian-inspired · Easy
Garlic Butter Pasta
Spaghetti tossed with gently cooked garlic, butter, parsley, and a splash of starchy pasta water.
- Prep
- 10 mins
- Cook
- 15 mins
- Total
- 25 mins
- Servings
- 4
A little about this dish
Spaghetti tossed with gently cooked garlic, butter, parsley, and a splash of starchy pasta water. Pasta keeps absorbing liquid after draining. Reserve more cooking water than you expect to need and loosen the sauce just before serving.
Simple Home Dish
Garlic Butter Pasta
- Prep
- 10 mins
- Cook
- 15 mins
- Total
- 25 mins
- Servings
- 4
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, plus salt for pasta water
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Boil spaghetti in salted water until just tender. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain.
- While the pasta cooks, melt butter with oil in a wide skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and optional pepper flakes. Cook for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and pale gold, not brown.
- Add 1/2 cup pasta water to the skillet and simmer for 1 minute. Add the spaghetti and toss vigorously for 1–2 minutes until glossy.
- Remove from heat. Toss in parsley, Parmesan, lemon juice, and up to 1/2 teaspoon salt to taste. Add a little more pasta water if needed and serve immediately.
Cooking tips
Thin garlic slices can burn quickly. If they turn dark brown, start that step again; bitter garlic can dominate the whole dish.
Storage & reheating
Refrigerate within 2 hours for up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of water until hot throughout, aiming for 165°F for leftovers.
Variations
Add 1 cup thawed peas to the pasta water during its last minute of cooking, or use chives instead of parsley.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the sauce disappear?
Pasta keeps absorbing liquid after draining. Reserve more cooking water than you expect to need and loosen the sauce just before serving.