Garlic Butter Pasta

Garlic butter pasta is the perfect dish to serve hot or cold, meaning you can make it and set it aside till you’re ready to dish it up with a helping of protein and a fresh green salad. Oh, and it takes just 20 minutes to prepare!

There’s no right type of pasta noodle to use for this recipe, so feel free to choose your (or your kids’) favorite. Though for garlic butter sauce, we recommend one of the pasta shapes—maybe spaghetti, maybe small pasta shells, alphabet noodles or ring macaroni—that grabs onto the rich buttery sauce and doesn’t let go.

Ingredients for Garlic Butter Pasta

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• Spaghetti: One of the most popular pastas, this long, thin pasta allows the sauce to cling to the noodles with ease.
• Garlic: The best method for prepping garlic is to mince fresh garlic cloves before adding it to the recipe.
• Butter: You can use salted or unsalted butter for this pasta sauce. It truly comes down to personal preference!
• Parmesan cheese: Sold pre-grated in the store, either in a tub in the refrigerated section or in a shelf-stable can near the Italian foods, this is a key ingredient for the sauce. You could also buy a block of Parmesan cheese and grate it yourself.
• Parsley: Take a bunch of fresh parsley and finely chop the leaves, until you have 2 tablespoons, adding it as a topping once you’ve completed the recipe.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the pasta

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Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

Step 2: Make the sauce

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Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook the garlic in the butter over medium-low heat until the mixture is fragrant, four to five minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat.

Editor’s Tip: To save time, it’s okay to use a jar of minced garlic, instead of mincing fresh garlic yourself. You’ll just want to drain the water before adding the garlic to the recipe.

Step 3: Combine the pasta and sauce

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Drain the pasta and add it to the garlic butter sauce. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper, and toss to coat before serving.

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Garlic Butter Pasta Variations

• Add herbs: In addition to parsley, we recommend adding fresh herbs, like basil or oregano, on top of your garlic butter pasta. And plenty of cheese, of course!
• Make it meaty: Tossing the pasta with coins of cooked sausage makes this into a beefier entree.

How to Store Garlic Butter Pasta

Once you make this recipe, it’s a piece of cake to store, whether you plan to reheat leftovers tomorrow night or serve it for the first time. It’s also easy to freeze.

Can you freeze garlic butter pasta?

Yes, absolutely! As long as it’s in a resealable freezer bag or an airtight container, it will keep for three to four months. One tip is to freeze single servings, for solo dinners or to ensure you’re only taking out what you need. Returning pasta to the freezer for a second time is not recommended. Freeze these servings on a baking sheet until they harden before adding them to a bag or container.

How long does garlic butter pasta last?

Garlic butter sauce (without the pasta added) can be kept in a lidded container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

Can you make garlic butter pasta ahead of time?

This recipe can be made the day before and then reheated in a sauce pan on medium-high heat, in the microwave or in the oven at a low temperature. Wait to add the Parmesan cheese and chopped herbs until you’re ready to serve.

How do you reheat garlic butter pasta?

Garlic butter pasta can be reheated on the stove, in the microwave or in an oven-safe casserole dish in a low-temperature oven. To make the pasta nice and creamy again, consider adding just a bit more butter or a splash of olive oil before reheating.

Garlic Butter Pasta Tips

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How do you thicken a garlic butter pasta sauce?

To thicken garlic butter pasta sauce, add a little bit more butter. Or try using one of these other sauce thickeners.

How do you avoid burning garlic butter sauce?

When making the garlic butter sauce, be sure to keep the heat low, constantly stirring the minced garlic so it doesn’t sit too long in contact with the bottom of the pan. Garlic that is burnt or overcooked can taste bitter and unpleasant, so constant stirring should safeguard against that. It should also keep the butter solids from overheating and burning.

What can you serve with butter garlic pasta?

Garlic butter pasta makes a beautiful meal with a simple Italian salad and grilled chicken breast.