Description
A simple and flavorful butter garlic spaghetti recipe that comes together in just 20 minutes. Perfectly cooked al dente spaghetti tossed in a fragrant garlic butter sauce with a hint of red pepper flakes, fresh parsley, and topped with grated Parmesan cheese for an easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
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
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
To Serve
- 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 of 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, sautéing until fragrant and lightly golden, about 1-2 minutes.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet with the garlic butter. Toss well to coat the pasta evenly. Gradually add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce as needed.
- Season: Season the pasta with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Stir in the chopped fresh parsley evenly.
- Serve: Serve the spaghetti immediately, topped with grated Parmesan cheese for added flavor.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, adjust the amount of red pepper flakes or omit them altogether for a milder dish.
- Reserve some pasta water to help emulsify the sauce and achieve a silky texture.
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor and avoid burning the garlic while sautéing as it can turn bitter.
- Parmesan cheese can be substituted with Pecorino Romano or any hard aged cheese of your preference.
- This recipe is best served immediately to enjoy the sauce at its freshest.
