Description
This Garlic Butter Pasta is a simple yet flavorful dish featuring perfectly cooked pasta coated in a rich garlic butter sauce with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese. It’s an easy and comforting meal perfect for any day of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces dried pasta such as spaghetti, linguine, or any other long or short pasta
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil water in a large pot and salt it generously to mimic seawater. Add the pasta and cook it until al dente, about 8-10 minutes depending on the pasta used. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the sliced garlic and sauté it gently until fragrant but not browned, about 1-2 minutes. Add the cooked pasta along with some reserved pasta water, tossing constantly to create a light sauce that coats the noodles.
- Finish the Dish: Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the grated parmesan cheese to the skillet. Toss everything together until the butter is melted and the cheese is evenly distributed. Remove from heat, stir in the chopped fresh parsley, and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve immediately with extra parmesan on the side if desired.
Notes
- Portion about 2-3 ounces (60-85 grams) of dried pasta per person for a balanced serving.
- Salting the pasta water like seawater enhances the pasta’s flavor.
- Use reserved pasta water gradually; you may not need all of it to get the desired sauce consistency.
- Fresh garlic sliced thinly releases more flavor than minced.
- Parmesan can be substituted with Pecorino Romano for a sharper taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
