Pasta with Garlic Butter
Skip basic buttered noodles and make this Pasta with Garlic Butter instead, starring a flavorful compound butter with roasted garlic, inspired by classic garlic bread. This weeknight dinner takes the best part of garlic bread – the garlicky, herbed butter – and turns it into a proper sauce for pasta!
Why We Love This Pasta with Garlic Butter Recipe
This pasta with garlic compound butter is simple yet sophisticated, uses pantry staples, and comes together in under an hour while the garlic roasts! The roasted garlic adds deep, caramelized flavors without any harsh bite, while crispy breadcrumbs provide a satisfying textural contrast.
An easy pasta recipe like this is perfect for busy weeknights when you need a reliable dinner. And these garlic butter noodles are an upgraded version of regular buttered noodles that will even please picky eaters who usually stick to plain pasta!
Ingredients You Need
- Spaghetti: Long pasta shapes like spaghetti work best here!
For the Compound Butter
- Butter: I like to use salted butter, but you can use unsalted if you prefer. Just make sure it is softened to room temperature so it can easily be mixed with the other ingredients.
- Parsley: Adds a fresh flavor and color contrast!
- Salt & Black Pepper: Add to taste, depending on what kind of butter you are using you will need more or less salt.
- Chili Flakes: For just a small hint of spice!
- Roasted Garlic: For roasted garlic, you will need a head of garlic, butter and salt. Simply roast it in the oven for this flavorful addition!
- Lemon Zest: To brighten up the rich butter sauce.
For the Breadcrumbs
- Breadcrumbs: For a crunchy topping, use regular breadcrumbs or Italian breadcrumbs.
- Butter: Butter helps the breadcrumbs to toast up perfectly!
- Parmesan Cheese: After toasting, add in some parmesan cheese for added savory flavor. I recommend freshly grated parmesan cheese if you have a block on hand!
How to Make Pasta with Garlic Compound Butter
Roast the Garlic
- Preheat your oven to 400°F
- Slice off the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves.
- Place the garlic on a piece of foil, drizzle with 1/2 tbsp butter and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
- Wrap the garlic in the foil and roast for 40–50 minutes, or until the cloves are soft and golden.
Make the Compound Butter
- In a small bowl, combine the room-temperature butter, roasted garlic, chopped parsley, chili flakes, salt, and black pepper and lemon zest.
- Mix until well combined and set aside.
Prepare the Breadcrumbs
- In a skillet, melt 1 tbsp butter over medium heat.
- Add the breadcrumbs and toast them until golden brown, stirring frequently (about 3–4 minutes).
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese and remove from heat and set aside.
Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining the spaghetti.
Combine and Serve
- Transfer the cooked spaghetti into a large bowl.
- Immediately add the compound butter to the hot spaghetti. Toss until the spaghetti is evenly coated, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve immediately, topped with the toasted breadcrumbs and additional parsley or Parmesan, if desired.
Tips for Success
- Don’t forget to reserve some pasta cooking water! Reserve at least 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water before draining. This water helps create a silky sauce and prevents the butter from becoming too thick or greasy.
- Don’t rush the garlic roasting process – it needs 40-50 minutes to become properly caramelized and soft. Check that cloves are golden and can be easily pierced with a fork before removing from the oven.
- Toast breadcrumbs over medium heat while stirring constantly. They can go from golden to burnt in seconds, so remove them from heat as soon as they’re light golden brown.
Serving Suggestions
Serve immediately while the pasta and garlic butter sauce are hot and the breadcrumbs are crispy. While it is delicious on its own, you can pair your garlic butter pasta with a simple arugula salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette, or serve alongside roasted vegetables. For protein, consider adding grilled shrimp or chicken!
Frequently Asked Questions
Definitely! Feel free to make it ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 1 week. You can use the compound butter on other things too, like bread, steaks, or shrimp!
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of water over low heat, stirring frequently to re-emulsify the sauce.
Butter creates a silky sauce that coats each strand of pasta and adds richness. When combined with starchy pasta water, it emulsifies into a smooth sauce that clings to the pasta beautifully! In this butter pasta recipe, the butter is combined with other flavorful ingredients to make a simple garlic butter that takes the noodles to a whole new level!
More Recipes to Try
- Zucchini Tuna Pasta with Lemon
- Chicken Orzo Yogurt Soup
- Acini di Pepe Tabbouleh Salad
- Gnocchi Au Poivre
Pasta with Garlic Butter
Ingredients
- 4-6 oz spaghetti
For the Compound Butter
- 4 tbsp butter room temperature (I prefer salted)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 tsp chili flakes
- 1 head roasted garlic
- 1 tsp lemon zest
For the Roasted Garlic
- 1 garlic head
- 1/2 tbsp butter
- pinch of salt
For the Breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp butter I use salted
- 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Roast the Garlic
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Slice off the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves.
- Place the garlic on a piece of foil, drizzle with 1/2 tbsp butter and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.
- Wrap the garlic in the foil and roast for 40–50 minutes, or until the cloves are soft and golden.
Make the Compound Butter
- In a small bowl, combine the room-temperature butter, roasted garlic, chopped parsley, chili flakes, salt, and black pepper and lemon zest.
- Mix until well combined and set aside.
Prepare the Breadcrumbs
- In a skillet, melt 1 tbsp butter over medium heat.
- Add the breadcrumbs and toast them until golden brown, stirring frequently (about 3–4 minutes).
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese and remove from heat and set aside.
Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente.
- Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining the spaghetti.
Combine and Serve
- Transfer the cooked spaghetti into a large bowl.
- Immediately add the compound butter to the hot spaghetti. Toss until the spaghetti is evenly coated, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve immediately, topped with the toasted breadcrumbs and additional parsley or Parmesan, if desired.