Easy Garlic Butter Pasta

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Craving a quick and tasty meal? You’ll love this Easy Garlic Butter Pasta recipe! With just 4 ingredients and 20 minutes, you can whip up a delicious dinner for six. This simple dish combines butter, garlic, pasta, and Parmesan cheese for a comforting and flavorful meal.

You don’t need fancy cooking skills to make this pasta. It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want something yummy without the fuss. Plus, it’s budget-friendly and uses items you likely have in your kitchen already. Get ready to enjoy a restaurant-quality pasta dish in the comfort of your own home!

Exact Ingredients

This garlic butter pasta recipe uses just four simple ingredients. You’ll need butter, frozen garlic, pasta, and Parmesan cheese. Let’s look at each one and some possible swaps.

Possible Substitutes

For the butter, you can use salted or unsalted. Margarine or olive oil work too, but may change the flavor.

The recipe calls for frozen garlic cubes. Fresh minced garlic is a great substitute. Use about 1 tablespoon.

Any long pasta shape works well. Try spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine. Short shapes like penne or rotini are okay too.

For the cheese, fresh grated Parmesan is best. Pre-grated works in a pinch. You can also use Pecorino Romano or Asiago.

Don’t forget to save some pasta water! This starchy liquid helps the sauce coat the noodles. If you forget, use regular water instead.

Instructions

Here’s how to make this easy garlic butter pasta:

1. 
   

   Boil water in a large pot. Add salt and your pasta of choice.

   
   
2. 
   

   Cook the pasta according to package directions. Before draining, save 1/2 cup of pasta water.

   
   
3. 
   

   While pasta cooks, melt butter in a big pan over medium heat. Add frozen garlic cubes.

   
   
4. 
   

   Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the pan with garlic butter.

   
   
5. 
   

   Sprinkle in Parmesan cheese. Pour in some reserved pasta water.

   
   
6. 
   

   Stir everything together. Keep mixing until the cheese melts into a creamy sauce.

   
   
7. 
   

   Add more pasta water if needed to get the right consistency.

   
   
8. 
   

   Taste and add salt if you want.

   
   

Your garlic butter pasta is ready! Serve it hot and enjoy your quick, tasty meal.

Tips, Tricks & Storing

Here are some handy tips for making the best garlic butter pasta:

• Use fresh pasta for a quicker cooking time and better texture.

• Don’t overcook the pasta – keep it al dente for the perfect bite.

• Save extra pasta water in case you need to thin out the sauce later.

• Grate the Parmesan cheese fresh for the best flavor and melting.

You can easily customize this dish:

• Add red pepper flakes for some heat
• Mix in cooked chicken or shrimp for protein
• Toss in some frozen peas or spinach for veggies

To store leftovers, put them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The pasta may dry out a bit, so add a splash of water when reheating.

For best results when reheating, warm the pasta in a pan on the stove. Add a little butter and pasta water to bring the sauce back to life.