Authentic Garlic Butter Pasta
A rich, buttery pasta dish infused with fresh garlic and Parmesan, perfect for a cozy meal. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs spaghetti, unsalted butter, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, 8-10 minutes. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: Melt 3 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant — do not let it brown.
- Step 3: Toss 12 oz cooked spaghetti into the skillet, coating evenly with butter and garlic. Add 1/2 cup pasta water, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Stir until the pasta is glossy and well combined.
- Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in 1 cup grated Parmesan. Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan.
