Battery-Optimized Garlic Butter Pasta
Creamy pasta with a rich garlic-butter sauce and fresh herbs, using minimal ingredients for maximum flavor without kitchen chaos. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs Spaghetti, Unsalted butter, Garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 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
- 8 oz Spaghetti
- 3 tbsp Unsalted butter
- 4 cloves, finely minced Garlic
- 1/2 cup Heavy cream
- 1/2 cup, freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp, chopped Fresh basil
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/8 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: Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a rolling boil, add 8 oz spaghetti, and cook for 8 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, melt 3 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent browning.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to low, stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream and cook for 2 minutes until slightly thickened, then add 1/2 cup grated Parmesan and whisk until melted and smooth.
- Step 4: Add drained spaghetti to the skillet along with 2 tbsp reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously for 1-2 minutes until pasta is evenly coated and sauce clings to strands.
- Step 5: Remove from heat, stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan.








