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A close-up of a bowl of spaghetti with garlic, parsley, and parmesan cheese, perfect for quick pasta recipes in 20 minutes.

Easy Garlic Butter Pasta (20 minutes)

This easy garlic butter pasta recipe is perfect for busy weeknights. It's a simple yet flavorful dish that comes together in about 20 minutes, making it a weeknight win.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 367

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces spaghetti pasta
  • 4 Tablespoons butter
  • 5 garlic cloves minced or thinly sliced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • ½ lemon zest and juice from
  • 3 Tablespoons fresh parsley chopped

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Large non-stick skillet
  • Kitchen tongs

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
  2. Melt the butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
  3. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with ¼ cup of pasta water. Gently toss the noodles with kitchen tongs to coat. Add more pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, if needed, until a silky sauce forms.
  4. Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the grated Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Toss again to combine. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 12gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 877mgPotassium: 176mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 702IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 176mgIron: 1mg

Notes

Salt your pasta water generously; the salt is absorbed by the noodles, adding flavor. Reserve pasta water before draining, as its starch helps thicken the sauce and makes it cling to the pasta. Cook pasta al dente for a firm-tender, chewy texture.

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