Description
Garlic butter noodles deliver a comforting Italian-inspired symphony of rich, silky flavors that dance across your palate. Minimal ingredients and lightning-fast preparation make this dish a perfect weeknight dinner solution you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) spaghetti or your favorite pasta
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings:
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Garnish:
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare pasta in a pot of salted boiling water, cooking until perfectly tender with a slight bite, then carefully drain while preserving a portion of the starchy cooking liquid.
- Place a spacious skillet on medium heat and allow butter to melt, transforming into a golden, silky base.
- Introduce finely chopped garlic to the melted butter, gently sautéing until the aromatics release their fragrant essence and become translucent.
- Transfer the drained pasta directly into the skillet, thoroughly coating each strand with the luxurious garlic-infused butter, ensuring even distribution.
- Gradually incorporate reserved pasta water, stirring continuously to create a smooth, glossy sauce that clings delicately to the noodles.
- Season the dish with a delicate balance of salt and freshly cracked pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Once the flavors have harmonized, remove the skillet from heat and garnish with a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and vibrant chopped parsley for a burst of color and additional flavor complexity.
- Serve the noodles immediately while piping hot, inviting diners to savor the rich, garlicky embrace of this simple yet elegant dish.
Notes
- Butter quality matters significantly, so choose a rich, high-fat butter for maximum flavor depth.
- Reserve pasta water carefully, as its starchy content helps create a silky, smooth sauce that clings perfectly to noodles.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting garlic sauté time; shorter time means milder flavor, longer time creates deeper roasted notes.
- Transform into gluten-free version by substituting regular pasta with rice or chickpea noodles without compromising taste integrity.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg