• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
    • Contact Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Chickens and Farm Animals
  • Gardening
  • Recipes
  • Podcast
    • Guest Application

Beyond The Chicken Coop logo

menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Chickens and Farm Animals
  • Gardening
  • About
    • Contact Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Podcast
    • Guest Application
×

Home » Pasta » Garlic Butter Pasta

Published: Jan 19, 2023 by Kathy · This post may contain affiliate links

Garlic Butter Pasta

Jump to Recipe
A bowl of pasta with a fork twirled around the center of the pasta.

Easy to make Garlic Butter Pasta is a tasty side dish that's full of flavor and comfort.

Made with just a handful of ingredients, this pasta dish can be ready in less than 15 minutes.

Pasta twirled around a fork and in a large white bowl.
Table of Contents
Quick and easy
Key ingredients
Step by step directions
Recipe tips
Frequently asked questions
Serving suggestions
More delicious easy sides
Garlic Butter Pasta

Quick and easy

This butter garlic pasta is so quick and easy! And it's so delicious. I think I could eat pasta like this every single day.

There's just a few simple ingredients and it makes a great side dish or even a simple main dish for lunch or dinner.

This pasta is very similar to my orzo pasta dish I make. Both recipes are a regular in our house!

Key ingredients

Spaghetti noodles next to a bowl of parmesan and butter.

Ingredients

This section reviews the best ingredients and substitutions for this recipe. For an exact list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card below.

  • Pasta - I like to use spaghetti noodles, but any pasta will work. For a quicker cooking dish, try thin spaghetti. You could also use fettucini, bow tie pasta, orecchiette pasta, orzo or any pasta you have in your pantry.
  • Parmesan - For this recipe, I use freshly grated parmesan cheese. The finely grated cheese just melts right into the pasta
  • Garlic - You can use as much or as little garlic as you like.
  • Butter - I use salted butter
  • Pasta Water - Just before your pasta is finished cooking, remove a cup of the water. This pasta water will be used to add to the dish to help make it silky smooth. The water adds a bit of starch and salt.
  • Fresh Herbs - Freshly chopped parsley is added just before serving. The parsley adds color but also adds a wonderful freshness. Other herbs that you can use include fresh basil or thyme.

Step by step directions

How to make it

In this section I share step by step photos, cooking method, techniques and a general overview. For detailed instructions, temperatures and timing, check the printable recipe card below.

  • Boil pasta in salted water until it's cooked al dente or to your preference
  • While pasta is cooking, heat a large saucepan over low heat. Add butter and garlic
  • Cook just until butter is melted and the garlic is fragrant
  • Reserve a cup of pasta water. Drain pasta
  • Add pasta to garlic butter
Butter melting in a pan with garlic.
Adding spagetti noodles to a pan with butter.
  • Add parmesan and toss to coat
  • Add a bit of the pasta water to make everything nice and silky
Shredded parmesan cheese on pasta in a pan.
Adding pasta water to spaghetti.
  • Add freshly chopped parsley and a bit more parmesan cheese
  • Serve hot

Recipe tips

  • Use any type of pasta. I like to use spaghetti, but bowtie, fettuccine or orecchiette works too. Use what you have in your pantry.
  • Freshly grated parmesan works best because it just melts right into the pasta
  • Slowly add the pasta water. You will probably not need it all.
  • Add freshly chopped parsley or other fresh herbs just before serving

Frequently asked questions

How do I reheat leftover garlic butter pasta?

Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until heated through.

Can I make garlic butter pasta ahead of time?

This dish is best made and served right away. It takes only 15 minutes so there's no reason to make ahead of time.

Serving suggestions

  • Trout Almondine
  • Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
  • Pan Fried Shrimp
  • Cast Iron Chicken Thighs
  • Almond Crusted Fish

More delicious easy sides

  • Orzo Pasta with Butter and Herbs
  • Crispy Smashed Potatoes
  • Oven Roasted Carrots
  • Pesto Garlic Bread
  • Cucumber Salad
Pasta sprinkled with parsley in a pan.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Check out all my delicious pasta recipes!

  • Crock Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
  • Smoked Salmon Pasta
  • Ham and Pea Pasta
  • Creamy Chicken Orzo
Pasta twirled around a fork and in a large white bowl.

Garlic Butter Pasta

Kathy
Simple pasta with butter, garlic and a bit of parmesan cheese.
5 from 13 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 361 kcal

Equipment

  • Zester (for grating parmesan)
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces pasta (spaghetti noodles)
  • 4 tablespoons butter (salted)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1 teaspoon fresh parsley (chopped)

Instructions
 

  • Boil pasta in salted water until al dente or cooked to your liking
    8 ounces pasta
  • Scoop out about one cup of the pasta water and set aside
  • Drain pasta
  • While the pasta is boiling, melt butter in a large pan and add garlic. Cook over low heat for just until the garlic is fragrant. You don't want it browned, just warmed to flavor the butter. Turn off heat.
    4 tablespoons butter, 1 clove garlic
  • Add drained pasta to the pan with the garlic butter. Toss to coat.
  • Add parmesan and toss to coat
    ½ cup parmesan cheese
  • Add a bit of the reserved water. You want everything to be silky smooth. You probably won't need all the water.
  • Taste and add salt and pepper if needed
    salt, pepper
  • Top with freshly chopped parsley and additional grated parmesan
    1 teaspoon fresh parsley

Notes

  • Use any type of pasta. I like to use spaghetti, but bowtie, fettuccine or orecchiette works too. Use what you have in your pantry.
  • Freshly grated parmesan works best because it just melts right into the pasta
  • Slowly add the pasta water. You will probably not need it all.
  • Add freshly chopped parsley or other fresh herbs just before serving

Nutritional Disclaimer:

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 12gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 294mgPotassium: 144mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 450IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 165mgIron: 1mg
Keyword butter noodles, butter pasta
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @BeyondTheChickenCoop or tag #beyondthechickencoop!
« Episode 30 How to Use Apricot Jam
Blanching Broccoli »
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. David @ Spiced says

    January 23, 2023 at 3:58 am

    5 stars
    Garlic butter makes everything better! This is such an easy and delicious recipe, and I know it would be well received in our house. Maybe even Robbie would eat this one...and he's the pickiest eater I've ever met!! Great idea, Kathy!

    Reply
    • Kathy says

      January 23, 2023 at 5:32 am

      So simple, yet so delicious!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

The author holding a chicken.

I'm Kathy, a busy working mom who loves to cook from scratch, grow a garden, and raise farm animals. Take a look around and find all my recipes, gardening tips, and country living antics.

More about me →

Popular Recipes

  • Oatmeal Banana Muffins
  • Beer Battered Fish
  • Pan Fried Walleye
  • Chicken Pasta Bake

Homemade Bread

  • Pretzel Buns
  • Braided Bread
  • Honey Oat Bread
  • Potato Bread
  • Pumpkin and Sunflower Seed Bread
  • Homemade White Wheat Bread

Featured In...

Beyond the Chicken Coop recipes have been featured in many different sites.

Footer

↑ back to top

Beyond the Chicken Coop recipes have been featured in many different sites.

About

  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Beyond the Chicken Coop®