Garlic Butter Noodles Delight (Printable)

Tender noodles tossed in fragrant garlic butter with parsley and spices for a quick flavorful dish.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 7 oz spaghetti or fettuccine

→ Garlic Butter

02 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
04 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
05 - 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
06 - 1/2 tsp sea salt, plus more for pasta water
07 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Finishing

08 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
09 - Zest of 1/2 lemon (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain.
02 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes if using. Sauté gently for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant without browning.
03 - Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat with garlic butter. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if noodles seem dry.
04 - Stir in parsley, sea salt, and black pepper. Toss well to combine evenly.
05 - Divide noodles between bowls and top with Parmesan cheese and lemon zest if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in 15 minutes but tastes like you fussed over it for hours.
  • The pasta water becomes your secret weapon, turning ordinary garlic butter into something silky and cling-to-every-strand delicious.
  • Minimal ingredients mean maximum room to taste what actually matters.
02 -
  • That pasta water is magic—the starch in it is what turns loose garlic butter into a sauce that actually clings to noodles instead of pooling at the bottom of the bowl.
  • Don't let the garlic brown, even a little; it happens fast and changes everything about the flavor from sweet and mellow to harsh and burnt.
03 -
  • Keep the heat low when cooking the garlic so it becomes sweet and toasted rather than crispy and bitter—you're infusing, not frying.
  • Taste the noodles as you add that pasta water; a little goes a long way toward creating a silky coat rather than a soupy mess.
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