Garlic Butter Whole Wheat Pasta
Creamy whole wheat pasta tossed with garlic butter and fresh parsley for a simple, satisfying dish. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 40 minutes, pairs whole wheat spaghetti, unsalted butter, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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 whole wheat spaghetti
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup, chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup, grated parmesan cheese
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz whole wheat spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: While the pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant — do not let it brown.
- Step 3: Add 1/2 cup reserved pasta water to the skillet and stir until the butter is melted and the garlic is fully incorporated.
- Step 4: Toss the cooked pasta into the skillet, stirring to coat in the garlic butter. Add 1/4 cup chopped parsley and 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, mixing until the pasta is evenly coated and the cheese is melted.
- Step 5: Serve immediately, garnished with additional parsley.









