This super simple 20-minute garlic butter pasta recipe is packed with so much flavor. It’s the perfect quick and easy recipe that can be served as either a main dish or as a side dish because the flavors pair perfectly with just about everything!
Garlic Butter Pasta
This garlic butter pasta is so easy and oh so delicious. Tender spaghetti is covered in a delicious, buttery blanket of sauce that’s loaded with sauteed garlic and chopped fresh parsley, then it’s all tossed with some fresh grated parmesan cheese. The buttery garlic sauce gives this dish lots of flavor with a beautiful pop of color.
This perfectly cooked al dente pasta dish is hands down one of my favorite family-friendly meals to serve to kids. It takes no time to put together, and it’s perfect for those busy weeknights when you just don’t have enough time in the day to get something in the oven or slow cooker earlier on. It really is comfort food at its finest.
Even though this makes a delicious, full meal on its own. It also makes a fantastic side dish to serve alongside some green veggies, like these Italian green beans, and your favorite meats. I love serving it with filet mignon, this ribeye, an affordable chuck eye steak, scallops, lobster, or some skillet chicken tenderloins.
If you love garlic butter, be sure to check out our garlic chicken pasta recipe while you’re here! It’s a reader-favorite recipe with hundreds of 5-star reviews.
Ingredients
Spaghetti: If you can find it, I recommend using bronze-die cut spaghetti. This type of pasta has a rougher texture that holds the sauce so well, and I think it has a better taste and mouthfeel.
Unsalted Butter: Butter creates the creamy base of this simple sauce and is the fat we’re using to saute the garlic in. I prefer using unsalted butter because different brands add varying amounts of salt to their butter, so using unsalted butter allows you to control how salty your dish is. If you only keep salted butter on hand though, no worries, that should also work great.
Garlic: Garlic is what adds the classic, savory, depth of flavor that’s the base of this recipe. You can control the flavor of the garlic a bit by how finely you dice it. The finer you dice it (or if you use a garlic press), the more pronounced the flavor will be.
Parsley: Fresh parsley adds a lovely, bright, fresh flavor. It helps cut through and balance out the richness of the butter and the parmesan cheese.
Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan adds a rich, salty, umami flavor to this dish. I recommend using freshly grated parmesan because it melts into the sauce much more smoothly.
Olive Oil: Mixing in just a bit of olive oil at the end adds a delicious fruity flavor and also makes the texture of the pasta more silky.
Salt and Pepper: The salt enhances all of the other flavors in this dish, while the spice in the pepper cuts through and balances out the richness.
Alternative Ingredients
- Meat: You can add some protein to this dish to make it a more filling meal. It would taste great with grilled chicken, cooked and crumbled Italian sausage, crispy bacon bits, shrimp, or salmon mixed in.
- Vegetables: Try mixing in some cooked veggies to add some fiber to this dish. Sauteed broccoli, spinach, cherry tomatoes, kale, or cut asparagus spears would all be delicious in this dish.
- Pasta: Feel free to use your favorite pasta shape if you don’t have spaghetti on hand. Fettuccine, angel hair, penne, orzo, macaroni, or bow tie pasta would all work great here.
- Garlic: If you don’t like garlic, you can always swap it for shallots, which will give the dish a sweeter flavor.
- Herbs: Feel free to use fresh basil or oregano, either in lieu of parsley or in addition to it.
- Cheese: If you don’t have Parmesan, try using either Pecorino Romano or Asiago.
- Oil: Flavored olive oils can add a fun twist to this dish. My favorite finishing oil flavors for this dish are savory truffle-infused olive oil and spicy chili oil.
- Red Pepper Flakes: Try adding a pinch of red pepper to the melted butter with the garlic if you like a bit of heat.
How To Make Garlic Butter Pasta
Cook Pasta: Boil salted water, add spaghetti, and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Make Garlic Butter: Melt butter in a large skillet. Stir in minced garlic and parsley until fragrant, being careful not to brown the garlic.
Toss Together: Add the cooked pasta and coat it well with the garlic butter sauce.
Add Cheese: Sprinkle in half the Parmesan, stirring to melt and evenly distribute. Season with salt and pepper.
Finish and Serve: Drizzle olive oil on top and toss again. Garnish with the remaining Parmesan before serving. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
Pro Tips
- Always Salt Your Pasta Water: Salting the pasta water is your one chance to season the pasta from the inside out. The water you boil your pasta in should have a briny taste, but it shouldn’t taste as salty as the sea like some other people suggest. That will end up being too salty, especially if you use some of the leftover pasta water in your sauce.
- Stir the Garlic: Make sure the pan isn’t too hot before you add the garlic, and stir the garlic frequently while you’re sauteing it. You want the garlic to heat enough that the flavors infuse the butter, but you don’t want it to brown at all. As soon as it browns it starts to taste bitter.
- Reserve Some Pasta Water: I always reserve some starchy pasta water before draining. Then if the pasta seems too thick, I have the perfect liquid to thin it out a bit without making the sauce watery.
- Let the Pasta Rest: Letting the pasta rest for a couple of minutes before you serve it gives the flavors a chance to meld together.
What Is Garlic Butter Sauce Made Of?
You can easily make garlic butter sauce by gently sauteing garlic in melted butter until it’s aromatic. After that, mix in your favorite fresh herbs (like parsley), and some salt and pepper. That’s all you need to do to make the most delicious sauce that can be used to top pasta or bread, or as a dipping sauce for seafood or meat.
How Do You Thicken Garlic Butter Sauce?
If you want to add some body and thickness to this sauce, you could reserve a bit of the starchy pasta water before draining it. Mix it in after you’ve finished sauteing the sauce, but before you add the pasta. I’d recommend adding anywhere from 2 Tablespoons to 1/4 cup.
If you want a thicker sauce than pasta water can create, you’d have to sprinkle flour over the sauteed garlic to create a roux, then slowly add chicken broth or cream while whisking constantly until you get roughly the thickness you’re looking for. Keep in mind that the sauce will need to simmer for 2 minutes to thicken fully.
Can You Use Garlic Powder Instead Of Fresh Garlic For Pasta?
Definitely! Just keep in mind that the flavor of the garlic powder will be more muted compared to the strong flavor of fresh garlic. Start with 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder for every clove of garlic (a total of 2 teaspoons for this recipe), and add it as soon as the butter has melted. Saute it on low for a minute while you stir frequently to give the seasoning a chance to bloom before you add any other ingredients.
Can You Use Jarred Garlic?
I wouldn’t recommend it. You can if you like, but I always find the flavor of jarred garlic to be a bit bitter. In a recipe like this, that relies so heavily on the flavor of garlic, that flavor difference would be very noticeable.
What To Serve With Garlic Butter Pasta
I love serving this with some quick and easy air fryer garlic bread, a protein like chicken tenderloins, some garlic butter chicken thighs, or these Instant Pot chicken thighs, and a simple side salad or green vegetable, like these easy buttered frozen peas.
Storing And Reheating Leftovers
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, add a bit of butter or olive oil to a skillet over medium heat, then add the leftovers to the pan and heat until warmed through, stirring frequently to help break it up and ensure that it heats evenly.
Keep In Touch
I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime
Pasta Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other pasta recipes. Some reader favorites are:
- Garlic Chicken Pasta
- Creamy Garlic Chicken Pasta
- Lemon Ricotta Pasta
- Bow Tie Pasta Salad
- Spicy Chicken Pasta
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta
BEST Garlic Butter Pasta Recipe (Simple Recipe VIDEO)
Super simple 20-minute garlic butter pasta recipe is packed with flavor. It’s the perfect quick and easy busy weeknight recipe that kids love!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
- 8 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/3 cup fresh parsley (chopped)*
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (divided)**
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the butter and allow to melt. Once the butter has melted, add the minced garlic and chopped parsley. Mix together, then saute, stirring frequently to prevent burning, until the garlic is fragrant but not browned, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until the pasta is well coated with the garlic butter sauce.
- Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta. Toss again until the cheese is melted and the pasta is evenly coated.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the pasta and toss one final time.
Notes
*This means that you measure 1/3 of a cup out before you chop it. If you chop it, then measure out 1/3 of a cup, you’d end up with too much parsley in your dish.
**I recommend using freshly grated parmesan cheese because it has a better texture and flavor than pre-shredded cheese does. It incorporates into the sauce better without any grittiness from the anti-caking agents.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, place the pasta in a skillet over medium heat. Add a little bit of butter or olive oil and cook until heated through.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/4Amount Per Serving: Calories: 507Total Fat: 30.9gCarbohydrates: 46.3gFiber: 2.2gSugar: 1.7gProtein: 11.8g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
The next time you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner, try making this garlic butter pasta recipe! Spaghetti coated in a simple garlic butter sauce recipe truly is a tried and true family favorite.
1 thought on “Garlic Butter Pasta Recipe”
I love this easy, delicious garlic pasta meal. I added some meatballs to this recipe for the protein and had it with a salad. It was such a satisfying meal. I highly recommend this recipe.