Garlic Butter Pasta
The ultimate comfort food, Garlic Butter Pasta is a creamy and indulgent dish that's perfect for any night of the week. With rich flavors and a quick cooking time, it makes for an easy weeknight dinner that everyone will love. Serve this delightful pasta tonight and enjoy a taste of home!
Equipment
- Saucepot
- Skillet
- kitchen tongs
Ingredients
- 8 ounces 8 ounces (225g) dried pasta
- 4 tablespoons 4 tablespoons (52g) unsalted butter
- 3 cloves 3 cloves garlic
- ¼ teaspoon ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup ½ cup (43g) grated parmesan
- ¼ cup ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a medium-sized saucepot, bring water to a boil. Don’t forget to add a generous amount of salt; it should taste like the ocean. This is crucial for flavoring your pasta as it cooks. Once it reaches a rolling boil, add the dried pasta, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
- Once your pasta is cooked, reserve one cup of the pasta water; this will help create the sauce later. Drain the rest of the water and set the pasta aside. You want to keep that starchy water handy, as it’s key to achieving the right sauce consistency.
- In a large skillet, melt two tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Allow it to foam slightly, then add the sliced garlic. Sauté the garlic lightly, just until fragrant and golden. Be careful not to let it burn, as burnt garlic can turn bitter.
- Next, add the hot pasta to the skillet, along with a splash of the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together using kitchen tongs. You want the pasta to be well coated in the buttery garlic mixture.
- Add the remaining butter and continue tossing until it melts fully. If the sauce seems too thick, gradually add more of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
- Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the freshly grated parmesan cheese and chopped parsley, tossing continuously until everything is well combined. Taste and season with salt and black pepper as needed.
- Serve the Garlic Butter Pasta warm, topped with extra grated parmesan and a sprinkle of parsley for garnish. Enjoy this comforting dish with your favorite side salad or crusty bread!
Notes
- Tip 1: The recommended portion of pasta per person is 2-3oz (60-85 grams).
- Tip 2: Salt the water to cook the pasta just like sea water.
- Tip 3: You might not need to use all of the reserved pasta water, see how much you need to make the sauce as you make it.
- Tip 4: Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
- Tip 5: Reheat the pasta in a skillet over low-medium heat, and add a splash of water to thin out the sauce. Do the same if using the microwave.
- Tip 6: I don’t recommend freezing this pasta, as I found that it breaks when frozen and reheated.