Garlic Butter Pasta is the perfect side dish that goes with just about any meal, including chicken, beef, and shrimp. If you’re looking for an incredibly comforting side dish, this garlic butter sauce for pasta is going to have you grinning from ear to ear.
Suitable for vegetarian diets.
This winning combination of garlic, butter, parmesan, and pasta is a dish your whole family is going to love. What’s more, it only takes about 20 minutes to whip this up so you can serve it with your weeknight meal.
Perfect as a light meal on its own or as a side dish, pasta smothered in a flavorful garlic butter sauce is a pasta lover’s dream. Serve it with your favorite meat dish and a salad, and dinner is ready!
Why Make This Recipe
- Goes With Everything – Garlic butter noodles are the perfect side for chicken, ground beef, shrimp and even vegetable-based main dishes.
- Fast – This carb-lovers side dish on the table in about 20 minutes.
- Family-Friendly – Everyone in the family is goinf to love this garlicy pasta.
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta – I like to use spaghetti, but you can use your favorite pasta or even change it depending on what you are serving with the pasta.
- Butter – Salted butter works just fine here.
- Garlic Cloves – Use fresh garlic and feel free to use more or less depending on your preferences.
- Lemon Zest – This optional ingredient adds brightness to the dish. You can also add a splash of fresh lemon juice.
- Pasta Water – Using pasta water to loosen the sauce is economical and adds a ton of flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese – Use freshly grated parmesan rather than the powdered stuff in a can.
- Salt and Pepper – Seasoning your food with salt and pepper can help bring out all wonderful flavors.
How To Make Garlic Butter Noodles
Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions, then reserve ½ cup of the cooking water before draining.
- Melt the butter in a skillet and then add the garlic, being careful not to burn it.
- Remove from the heat and toss in the pasta and ¼ cup of the pasta water. Stir in the lemon zest and the cheese until creamy, adding additional pasta water if needed.
- Season with salt and pepper, garnish with chopped parsley and serve.
Tips For Success
- The pasta will continue to cook when you add it to the garlic butter sauce, so cook it to al dente to avoid mushy pasta.
- Melt the butter over medium-low heat, so the garlic doesn’t burn when you add it.
- Garnish with additional parmesan cheese before serving.
Variations
- Add Lemon Juice – Depending on what I am serving this with, I will add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to the sauce before tossing it in the pasta.
- Make It Spicy – Add red pepper flake to the garlic butter sauce for pasta and it will give the dish a little kick of heat and flavor.
- Add Greens – Toss in fresh spinach or chard just before serving. The heat of the pasta will wilt them.
- Add Fresh Herbs – Fresh thyme, rosemary, basil or your favorite herb will add lots of flavor.
- Use Roasted Garlic – This recipe calls for raw garlic but use roasted garlic for a warm, nutty flavor.
Budget-Friendly Tips
- Stock Up On Pasta – Pasta is affordable and shelf-stable. Stock up on pasta when it goes on hand and store several kinds in your pantry.
- Save The Parmesan Rind – Store the parmesan rind in the freezer and toss it into soups and stews to add lots of flavor.
Prep Ahead And Storage
- Prep Ahead – Cook the pasta in advance. Cooked pasta that hasn’t been mixed with the garlic butter sauce can be stored in the fridge for two days. Mix it with a bit of olive oil to prevent it from sticking. The pasta will reheat in the skillet when you mix it with the sauce.
- Store – Leftover pasta can be stored in the fridge for 2 days.
- Freeze – Although not ideal, cooked pasta can be frozen in ziploc bags or an airtight container—Thaw and use within 3 months.
Meal Prep
This pasta makes a great light lunch option so it’s great for meal prep. Make a batch and divide it into airtight containers, and store it in the fridge to take for lunch.
FAQs
There are several things you can do to make this a healthier side dish. Use whole-wheat pasta in place of regular pasta, substitute olive oil for the butter or simply enjoy a smaller portion.
The beauty of this side dish is that it goes well with so many things. Serve it with chicken, beef, sausage, ground beef, scallops…and the list goes on.
Serving Suggestions
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Tools To Make This
Get The Garlic Butter Pasta Recipe:
Garlic Butter Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (225g) spaghetti
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- Pinch lemon zest optional
- ½ cup (120ml) reserved pasta water divided
- ½ cup (45g) Parmesan cheese grated
- salt and pepper to taste
- parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted water according to package instructions until slightly al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.
- Heat butter over low-medium heat, add in minced garlic, and cook for about 60 seconds until fragrant (be careful not to burn it).
- Switch off the heat and add in the pasta, half of the reserved pasta water, lemon zest (if using), and cheese, Stir until well coated and creamy. Add more water as needed.
- Season with salt and pepper, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve.
Notes
- The pasta will continue to cook when you add it to the garlic butter sauce, so cook it to al dente to avoid mushy pasta.
- Melt the butter over medium-low heat, so the garlic doesn’t burn when you add it.
- Garnish with additional parmesan cheese before serving.
- Storage – keep in an airtight container inside the fridge for 2 days. Although not ideal, cooked pasta can be kept frozen in zip top bags or an airtight container for up to 3 months.
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