Garlic Butter Pasta: 10-Minute Easy Dinner
A quick, creamy, and garlicky weeknight pasta dish that comes together in just 10 minutes using simple ingredients like butter, fresh garlic, and parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (225g) linguine, fettuccine, or spaghetti
- 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 4–5 cloves fresh garlic, minced finely
- 1/2 cup starchy pasta water
- 1/2 cup (50g) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon salt (for boiling water)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, checking 1-2 minutes before package directions indicate. Reserve 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add cubed butter and let it melt slowly. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, stirring constantly for about 1 minute until fragrant and just starting to turn golden.
- Reduce heat to low. Pour in the reserved pasta water. Stir vigorously with tongs or a wooden spoon to emulsify the sauce until it becomes glossy and smooth.
- Transfer cooked pasta directly into the skillet with the sauce. Toss to combine, adding more pasta water a splash at a time if needed. Let pasta finish cooking in the sauce for 1-2 minutes.
- Remove skillet from heat. Immediately add grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley. Toss until cheese is melted and coated. Adjust seasoning with black pepper and serve immediately.
Notes
Use fresh garlic for best flavor; avoid jarred garlic. Do not rinse the pasta after draining to retain starch for the sauce. Finish cooking the pasta in the sauce to help it absorb flavor. If the sauce separates, ensure you are using enough pasta water and stirring vigorously over moderate heat. For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with olive oil and parmesan with nutritional yeast.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 580
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 65
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 18
Keywords: garlic butter pasta, quick dinner, weeknight meals, easy pasta, comfort food, 10 minute recipe, vegetarian