Description
This Easy Butter Garlic Spaghetti recipe combines simple ingredients to create a flavorful and comforting pasta dish. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal, it features spaghetti tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce with hints of red pepper flakes and fresh parsley, finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz spaghetti
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Toppings
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining the rest.
- Prepare Garlic Butter Sauce: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing until fragrant and lightly golden, about 1-2 minutes.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet with the garlic butter. Toss well to coat the pasta thoroughly. Gradually add reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce as needed, ensuring a smooth and silky texture.
- Season: Season the pasta with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley for a burst of color and freshness.
- Serve: Serve the garlic butter spaghetti immediately, topped generously with grated Parmesan cheese for added flavor and richness.
Notes
- Use freshly minced garlic for the best flavor.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred level of spiciness or omit for a milder dish.
- Reserve pasta water to help emulsify and thicken the sauce.
- Fresh parsley adds brightness but can be substituted with basil or omitted if unavailable.
- For a richer dish, add a splash of cream or swap butter for olive oil.
