One Pot Garlic Butter Pasta (Printable)
A simple yet flavorful pasta dish made in a single pot with aromatic garlic and creamy butter.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 oz spaghetti or linguine
02 - 4 cups vegetable broth or water
→ Garlic Butter Sauce
03 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 6 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - Zest and juice of ½ lemon (optional)
08 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
09 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a large pot or deep skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
02 - Add the uncooked pasta to the pot. Pour in the vegetable broth or water, ensuring the pasta is just covered. Season lightly with salt.
03 - Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Stir frequently to prevent sticking, and cook uncovered for 9-12 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
04 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in grated Parmesan, lemon zest and juice (if using), and chopped parsley. Toss until the sauce coats the pasta and becomes creamy. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and Parmesan if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything happens in one pot, which means minimal cleanup and maximum flavor absorption
- The garlic butter sauce develops a depth you cannot achieve by simply tossing cooked pasta in butter
02 -
- The sauce will look terrifyingly thin at first but thickens dramatically in the last two minutes of cooking
- If the pasta absorbs all the liquid before it is fully cooked, add hot broth in small increments rather than flooding the pot
03 -
- Break long pasta in half before adding if you are using a shorter pot. This prevents frustrating half in half out situations.
- Save a handful of grated Parmesan to sprinkle on top rather than stirring everything in at once.