Description
This Easy Butter Garlic Spaghetti recipe features tender spaghetti noodles tossed in a fragrant garlic butter sauce with a hint of red pepper flakes for subtle heat. A simple, quick meal perfect for weeknights, garnished with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
Ingredients
Spaghetti
- 8 oz spaghetti
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Finishing Touches
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain the rest.
- Prepare Garlic Butter Sauce: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sauté until fragrant and lightly golden, about 1-2 minutes.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet. Toss to coat in the garlic butter. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce as needed.
- Season: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in chopped parsley.
- Serve: Serve immediately topped with grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to help the sauce adhere better to the noodles.
- Adjust red pepper flakes amount depending on your heat preference.
- Use freshly minced garlic for the best flavor.
- Parmesan cheese is optional but adds a nice salty finish.
- Fresh parsley adds color and freshness but can be omitted if unavailable.
