Indulge in a plate of Creamy Garlic Butter Spaghetti that brings together tender al dente noodles with a fragrant medley of garlic, olive oil and butter. Perfectly balanced with a hint of red pepper spice and crowned with fresh parsley and Parmesan, this dish offers an irresistible culinary celebration.

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I just discovered the secret to amazing garlic butter spaghetti and it’s honestly a game changer. I was messing around with a bunch of Italian recipes like Garlic Butter Pasta and Creamy Garlic Butter Spaghetti and decided to try out this simple idea.

I boiled 400 grams of spaghetti until it was just right, and then I tossed it with 4 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 tbsp olive oil. After that, I added 6 garlic cloves minced and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little kick, along with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Sometimes I mix in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and even throw in 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, which is optional but so really good. The flavors all come together in a way that makes you wanna dig right in, and I’ve never tasted pasta done this way before.

Enjoy every bite!

Why I Like this Recipe

I love this recipe because its super simple and really hits the spot when Im craving something comforting. The garlic and butter combo is so flavorful and makes every bite taste amazing. I also dig how the pasta gets perfectly coated with the sauce even if youre in a rush. And honestly, its just a fun dish to make that feels like a little win every time i serve it!

Ingredients

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Spaghetti is a carb-rich pasta that offers energy and a satisfying texture for meals.
Garlic provides bold flavor and antioxidants that help boost overall health benefits.
Butter creates a rich, creamy sauce, though too much might make the dish unhealthy.
Olive oil contributes healthy fats and smooth flavor that complements garlic superbly.
Pepper flakes add a spicy kick, balancing the buttery and garlic flavors perfectly.
Parsley gives a fresh, vibrant note that lightens the rich, savory sauce.
Parmesan adds savory umami and a bit of protein for an extra touch of flavor.

Ingredient Quantities

400 grams spaghetti

4 tbsp unsalted butter

2 tbsp olive oil

6 garlic cloves minced

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)

Salt to taste

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional but really good)

How to Make this

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1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add 400 grams of spaghetti and cook it until it’s al dente, about 8-10 minutes.

2. When the spaghetti is almost ready, heat 4 tbsp unsalted butter with 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

3. Add the 6 minced garlic cloves to the pan and cook them for around 1-2 minutes until they get fragrant but not browned.

4. Stir in 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (or more if you like a bit more heat) and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

5. Drain the spaghetti, reserving a little bit of the pasta water, and add the pasta to the skillet.

6. Toss the spaghetti in the garlic butter sauce so that every strand gets a good coating.

7. If the sauce feels a bit dry, add just a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up.

8. Stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and mix everything well.

9. If you’re using it, sprinkle 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta and stir to combine.

10. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed, then serve hot and enjoy your amazing garlic butter spaghetti!

Equipment Needed

1. A large pot – required for boiling the salted water and cooking the spaghetti. This helps maintain the proper cooking temperature for the pasta which is key for its nutritional quality.
2. A colander – needed to drain the spaghetti once it reaches al dente doneness. It helps you drain without losing any of the valuable pasta water.
3. A large skillet – used for melting the butter and olive oil while cooking the garlic properly which preserves the garlic’s beneficial compounds.
4. Measuring spoons and cups – essential for accurately adding unsalted butter, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley to the dish, ensuring balanced flavors and nutrition.
5. A wooden spoon or spatula – useful for stirring and tossing the spaghetti in the garlic butter sauce evenly. This utensil ensures that each strand gets a proper coating of flavor.
6. A knife and cutting board – though the garlic is pre-minced in this recipe, these are needed if you want to chop fresh parsley or any additional ingredients, ensuring you utilize their vitamins and nutrients.
7. A cheese grater – necessary if you decide to add the optional grated Parmesan cheese on top, adding both taste and a good source of protein and calcium to the dish.

FAQ

Q: Can i substitute any pasta for spaghetti? A: Sure you can, but spaghetti works best coz its perfect for soaking up that garlic butter sauce.

Q: Is the Parmesan cheese mandatory? A: Not really its optional but trust me it adds a really good flavor so you should try it at least once.

Q: How spicy is this dish? A: Its mildly spicy with the red pepper flakes so if you dont like heat you can totally cut back on them or leave them out.

Q: Can i add extra garlic for a stronger flavor? A: Yes go ahead and add more garlic if you love that deep garlicky vibe its all about what you like in the end.

Q: Do i need to fry the garlic till its golden? A: Not too long because you dont want to burn it cause that would give a bitter taste, just a light golden color is perfect.

The SECRET To Amazing Garlic Butter Spaghetti Recipe Substitutions and Variations

If you dont have unsalted butter, you can use salted butter instead but cut back on the added salt.
If olive oil is missing, avocado oil or even grapeseed oil can work in a pinch.
You can try swapping spaghetti for linguine or fettuccine if you feel like a change.
Not a fan of red pepper flakes? A pinch of cayenne pepper is a good substitute.
Instead of Parmesan cheese, try pecorino Romano or asiago cheese to mix things up.

Pro Tips

1. Try not to rush the garlic; cook it just until it smells amazing, if you let it brown too much it can quickly get bitter, so keep an eye on it.
2. When mixing the pasta with the sauce, add a little bit o’ that reserved water at a time to help the sauce coat the noodles evenly, it really makes a difference.
3. If you wanna amp up the flavor, consider tossing in a handful of toasted breadcrumbs or even a splash more olive oil at the end, its like giving the dish a little extra kick.
4. Make sure to season as you go and adjust to taste at the end, its easier to add more salt or pepper than trying to fix an over seasoned sauce.

The SECRET To Amazing Garlic Butter Spaghetti Recipe

Recipe by Sam Ecclestone

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

540

kcal

Equipment: 1. A large pot – required for boiling the salted water and cooking the spaghetti. This helps maintain the proper cooking temperature for the pasta which is key for its nutritional quality.
2. A colander – needed to drain the spaghetti once it reaches al dente doneness. It helps you drain without losing any of the valuable pasta water.
3. A large skillet – used for melting the butter and olive oil while cooking the garlic properly which preserves the garlic’s beneficial compounds.
4. Measuring spoons and cups – essential for accurately adding unsalted butter, olive oil, red pepper flakes, and chopped parsley to the dish, ensuring balanced flavors and nutrition.
5. A wooden spoon or spatula – useful for stirring and tossing the spaghetti in the garlic butter sauce evenly. This utensil ensures that each strand gets a proper coating of flavor.
6. A knife and cutting board – though the garlic is pre-minced in this recipe, these are needed if you want to chop fresh parsley or any additional ingredients, ensuring you utilize their vitamins and nutrients.
7. A cheese grater – necessary if you decide to add the optional grated Parmesan cheese on top, adding both taste and a good source of protein and calcium to the dish.

Ingredients

400 grams spaghetti
4 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp olive oil
6 garlic cloves minced
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional but really good)

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add 400 grams of spaghetti and cook it until it's al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
When the spaghetti is almost ready, heat 4 tbsp unsalted butter with 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the 6 minced garlic cloves to the pan and cook them for around 1-2 minutes until they get fragrant but not browned.
Stir in 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (or more if you like a bit more heat) and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Drain the spaghetti, reserving a little bit of the pasta water, and add the pasta to the skillet.
Toss the spaghetti in the garlic butter sauce so that every strand gets a good coating.
If the sauce feels a bit dry, add just a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up.
Stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and mix everything well.
If you're using it, sprinkle 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta and stir to combine.
Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed, then serve hot and enjoy your amazing garlic butter spaghetti!

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.