Ingredients (~6 servings)
- 12 oz pasta (spaghetti or whatever long noodles you have)
- 1/3 cup butter (salted)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated, plus more for serving)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 tsp fresh parsley (chopped)
Get the Pasta Water Going
Fill a large pot with water and salt it well – it should taste like seawater.
Bring to a rolling boil and add the pasta. Cook until al dente according to package directions, usually ~8-10 minutes.
Before you drain anything, scoop out about 1 1/2 cups of the starchy pasta water and set aside; you’ll need this later to make everything silky.
Make the Garlic Butter Base
While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large pan over low heat.
Add the minced garlic and cook just until fragrant – maybe ~30-45 seconds. You don’t want it brown, just warmed enough to flavor the butter.
Turn off the heat and let it sit there waiting for the pasta.
Bring It All Together
Drain the pasta and immediately add it to the pan with the garlic butter.
Toss everything to coat the noodles, then add the parmesan and toss again.
Start adding the reserved pasta water a little at a time – maybe 1/4 cup to start. You want everything to look glossy and silky, not dry or clumpy.
Keep adding water until it looks right; you probably won’t need all of it.
Season and Serve
Taste and add salt and pepper as needed – the pasta water and cheese are already salty, so go easy at first.
Top with the chopped parsley and extra parmesan cheese.
Serve immediately while it’s hot.
Garlic Butter Pasta
Ingredients
Ingredients (~6 servings)
- 12 oz pasta spaghetti or whatever long noodles you have
- 1/3 cup butter salted
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated, plus more for serving
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 tsp fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Bring salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
- Reserve 1 1/2 cups pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large pan over low heat.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30-45 seconds, then turn off heat.
- Drain pasta and add to pan with garlic butter, tossing to coat.
- Add parmesan and toss again.
- Add reserved pasta water 1/4 cup at a time, tossing until sauce is glossy and silky.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Top with parsley and extra parmesan, then serve immediately.
