Garlic Pasta Recipe (Garlic Butter Pasta)

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One of the simplest pasta recipes that you can easily make at home is the Garlic Pasta. This Italian inspired recipe of Garlic Butter Pasta is made with spaghetti tossed in a delicious sauce made with extra virgin olive oil, butter, garlic, herbs, spices and pasta water. You only need to cook the spaghetti and prep the garlic and herbs for this recipe. Add more of your favorite pasta ingredients to customize or keep it simple like this, the choice is yours. Makes for a quick, easy and comforting lunch or dinner.

About Garlic Pasta Recipe

This Garlic Pasta has a lovely garlicky flavor with a tangy, herby taste. The taste is mellowed and not sharp or pungent. To get this subtle kick, you need to sauté the garlic until it is perfectly golden.

So, make sure to do this slowly and nicely, so that the garlic doesn’t get burnt. This is the most important part of this recipe and to get it right, is essential.

garlic butter pasta served on a white plate with a basil sprig by the side.

Fried garlic tastes very different than raw garlic. When we sauté or fry garlic, the pungent sharp tastes transform to a sweet mellow taste.

I usually add fresh parsley and basil to most of my pasta recipes as I love the flavors and aroma of both. Feel free to include the fresh herbs you have in hand or your favorite herbs in this recipe of Garlic Butter Pasta as well.

While I prefer to make this Garlic Pasta Recipe in a mix of extra virgin olive oil and butter, you can use only butter or only extra virgin olive oil.

This recipe tastes best only with spaghetti and other longer kinds of pasta like linguine. I wouldn’t recommend to use penne or macaroni as the sauce is not a thick one like tomato ragu sauce, but a simple one.

The sauce in this Garlic Butter Pasta does not have any vegetables and only consists of fats like butter and olive oil, garlic, ground spices and herbs.

The starchy pasta water is incorporated into this butter, olive oil, spices mix to thicken it and make the sauce more cohesive. On cooking the sauce further, it emulsifies, thickens and coats the pasta nicely.

This kind of a fat-based emulsified thick sauce is best suited to pastas like spaghetti or linguine. You can also use noodles in place of spaghetti.

Spices & Seasonings

I like my Garlic Pasta a bit spicy. So, I add more smoked paprika. But you can add less quantity for a less spicy version.

Using smoked paprika gives a typical smoky flavor to the pasta. You can also use regular paprika or cayenne pepper instead of smoked paprika.

There is no need to add any cheese in this Garlic Butter Pasta as it tastes good as is. But if you prefer, then do add some cheese as a garnish.

Also, I feel including lemon juice subtly balances the earthy, nutty and herby flavors of the garlic, herbs and pasta. Hence, I add it. Feel free to skip it too, if not a fan.

While this recipe may remind you of aglio-e-olio, but it is not that Italian recipe. I make my Aglio e Olio in a different way than this one.

Garlic Pasta makes for a comforting meal. The recipe has a versatile nature with the simplicity of preparation.

It can become a culinary canvas, allowing you to add proteins, vegetables, or extra seasonings to make it more better and tastier.

If you like garlic based dishes, do check these flavorful recipe of Garlic Noodles and the ever popular Garlic Bread.

I have also shared a soft, light textured Garlic Naan recipe that you can mop up with your curries. Not to forget the much loved Garlic Breadsticks popularized by the pizzerias everywhere.

How to make Garlic Pasta

Cook Pasta

1. Begin with boiling 5 cups water with 1.5 teaspoons salt in pot or saucepan or a medium to large pot.

2. Take 250 grams spaghetti and place inside the boiling water carefully. Do not break prior to keeping in the water. Simply keep in the water.

Once they start cooking, they will soften and then you can immerse the top part with tongs inside the water.

Note: We will not be adding any salt later. If you are on a low salt diet, add ½ to 1 teaspoon salt when cooking the pasta and later adjust the salt when making the dish.

spaghetti strands inside hot water in pan.

3. Cook spaghetti until al dente or just about cooked with a bite in the center.

4. Using strainer, drain the cooked pasta water. Do reserve ½ cup of pasta water. Keep the spaghetti aside.

cooked spaghetti strained in a strainer.

Make Garlic Butter Sauce

5. In a sauté pan or frying pan or a skillet, take 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and 3 tablespoons butter.

Keep on low heat and let the butter melt.

6. When the butter melts, add 2 tablespoons minced garlic.

You can use the garlic press to mince the peeled garlic cloves.

mound of minced garlic in melted butter in pan.

7. Stir to mix the garlic evenly with the butter and olive oil mixture.

8. Cook garlic on low heat until it turns golden.

9. Stir occasionally while cooking the garlic.

First the garlic will turn light golden. Keep an eye as once the garlic turns light golden it can burn or brown too much within a blink.

10. Once the garlic turns light golden, keep on stirring often until garlic starts to turn golden. Turn off the heat when the garlic becomes golden.

11. Place the pan on the countertop. Add 1 teaspoon smoked paprika and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper.

If you do not have smoked paprika, use sweet paprika, regular paprika, cayenne pepper or kashmiri red chilli powder. Add according to taste.

smoked paprika and ground black pepper added to golden fried garlic.

12. Stir to combine and mix. The spices will cook with the residue heat of the fats.

ground spices mixed with garlic and butter.

13. Ensure that the spices are evenly mixed with the garlic and olive + butter mixture.

spices evenly mixed with garlic butter sauce.

14. Add ½ cup of reserved pasta water. Place the pan on stovetop and begin to heat.

Keep in mind that the pasta water already has salt in it.

15. Simmer the mixture on medium-low heat for 1½ to 2 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly and is emulsified well.

garlic butter sauce thickened and emulsified in pan.

Make Garlic Pasta

16. Add the cooked spaghetti with the help of tongs.

cooked spaghetti added to garlic butter sauce in pan.

17. Toss and mix well using the pasta tongs. Cook the spaghetti for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the liquids have dried up.

Stir them occasionally taking care they do not break.

18. When the liquids have dried up, add 2 teaspoons lemon juice and stir to combine.

Lemon juice is optional and can be skipped. You can also add less or more lemon juice according to taste.

Do use fresh lemons for the juice and not bottled lemon juice.

19. Lastly, add 3 tablespoons chopped parsley and 3 tablespoons chopped basil.

Fresh herbs give a lovely herbaceous flavor, but you could use dried herbs like oregano or thyme or basil, if that is what you have.

The rule is to use 1 teaspoon of dried herbs for 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs. But you could always add lesser amounts of dried herbs if you prefer.

chopped herbs on garlic butter pasta in pan.

20. Mix very well and turn off the heat.

Check taste and add a few pinches of salt, if needed.

Serving Suggestions

Serve Garlic Pasta garnished with some vegetarian parmesan cheese or fresh basil or parsley, if you like. If you like more spiced taste, sprinkle a few pinches of black pepper powder or paprika or red pepper flakes.

You could enjoy the pasta as is without any sides. For healthy meal options, serve with salads like a Vegetable Salad or Caesar Salad.

If you love soups, pair with this comforting Tomato Soup or the hearty Minestrone Soup with your Garlic Butter Pasta.

Some more flavorful accompaniments is this umami rich Sautéed Mushrooms and this easier simple preparation of Sautéed Broccoli.

garlic pasta served on a white plate with a basil sprig by the side.

Expert Tips

Use of garlic: Make sure to use fresh garlic for this recipe. Frozen garlic may not work well. I prefer to use smaller sized garlic as they are more sharp and potent with a stronger flavor as compared to the Chinese garlic which has a mild flavor.
Frying garlic: Be attentive while frying the garlic as in matter of seconds it can turn from light brown to black. Keep heat to a low and stir often for even frying and cooking of the minced garlic.
Choice of pasta: You can also make this recipe with whole wheat spaghetti. Linguine is another good option. Noodles also work well. You could also try making the recipe with angel hair pasta, but reduce the pasta water slightly in the sauce.
Use of herbs & spices: Use fresh herbs of your choice. Note that each herb will give a different flavor profile to the dish. You can opt to use cayenne pepper, red chili powder or paprika.
Adding salt: Salt can be adjusted according to your requirements. I add salt while cooking the pasta and do not add later. If you prefer less salt in your food, add less salt to the water while cooking the spaghetti.
Choice of fat: You can prepare this pasta dish with a combination of both butter and olive oil, as well as just butter or just olive oil. To make a vegan version, use only olive oil.

FAQs

What is the garlic butter sauce made of?

The garlic butter sauce is typically made from a few simple ingredients: garlic, paprika, pepper, butter, and/or olive oil. Some variations may include Parmesan cheese, herbs like parsley or basil, etc.

What happens when you add butter to pasta?

When you add butter to pasta, it creates a rich, velvety coating on the spaghetti, enhancing their flavor and providing a creamy texture. The butter also helps bind the sauce to the pasta, making it taste more luxurious.

How do you reheat the Garlic Butter Pasta?

To reheat this Garlic Pasta, warm it gently in a pan over low heat, adding a small amount of butter or olive oil to restore moisture and prevent it from drying out. Alternatively, you can reheat it in the microwave with a sprinkle of water, stirring occasionally to keep the pasta creamy.

Do you need to add garlic in the pasta sauce?

Garlic is a key ingredient that adds flavor and depth to the sauce, but it can be omitted if preferred. For a milder taste, consider using less garlic or substituting with garlic powder.

How do I thicken the garlic butter sauce?

To thicken the garlic butter sauce, you can some grated Parmesan cheese, which will melt and add body to the sauce. Another method is to add a small amount of pasta cooking water, which contains starch that helps create a thicker, more cohesive sauce.