5-Ingredient Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta
This quick & easy garlic parmesan pasta is perfect for lazy nights when you don't feel like cooking! You just need 5 ingredients (that you probably already have!) for a simple dinner that's ready in 30 minutes. Pair it with your favorite protein or veggies for a satisfying dinner the whole family will love!
Equipment
- Large saucepan or pot for boiling pasta
- Large deep skillet
Ingredients
- 16 oz dry pasta any shape
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup parmesan cheese shredded
Pantry staples
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions, until al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Prep the sauce: Heat olive oil and butter together in a large deep skillet over medium heat until the butter is melted.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, just it's golden-brown and fragrant. Don't overcook the garlic!
- Add pasta to the skillet: Reduce the heat to low. Add the drained pasta to the skillet, and toss gently to coat. Slowly mix in the reserved pasta water, about 2 tablespoons at a time, until the pasta is coated in a light sauce. I added about ⅓ cup total of reserved pasta water, but you can add more or less depending on your texture preference.
- Add parmesan cheese: Sprinkle in shredded Parmesan cheese. Toss until the cheese has melted and the pasta is evenly coated.
- Serve and enjoy! Serve in individual plates or bowls. Season with salt & pepper or a little extra Parmesan cheese according to taste. Enjoy!
Notes
- Make it lighter: If you want to decrease the calories and fats in this recipe, skip the butter and use 6 tablespoons of olive oil instead. You can also reduce the amount of Parmesan cheese to just 1/4 cup.
- Add some protein: Breaded chicken cutlets, grilled chicken strips, meatballs, shrimp, or steak strips all pair perfectly with this pasta!
- Add some veggies: Add spinach or kale at the very end, and let them wilt into the pasta. You can also add steamed broccoli or roasted zucchini at the end.
- Keep an eye on the heat. Make sure to melt the butter, saute the garlic, and melt the Parmesan cheese all on low-medium heat to prevent the ingredients from burning.
- Feel like this recipe is too bland? Add 1/2 teaspoon of red chili flakes in Step #2 right before you add the garlic. This will make the olive oil-butter mixture slightly spicy and give it some heat!