Easy Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta

Ingredients

• 8 oz Pasta (spaghetti or linguine) (cooked al dente)
• 3 tbsp Unsalted butter
• 4 Garlic (minced)
• 0.5 cup Heavy cream
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
• 0.25 tsp Red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
• 1 tbsp Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
• Salt and black pepper (to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/4 cup of pasta water before draining.

2. 2

   In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.

3. 3

   Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for 2 minutes to thicken slightly.

4. 4

   Whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth.

5. 5

   Add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss thoroughly to coat the noodles in the sauce, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.

6. 6

   Season with salt and pepper to taste, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve immediately.

Notes

For a lighter version, you can substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream, though the sauce will be less velvety. Ensure you grate the Parmesan yourself for the best melting consistency.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• vegetarian
• pasta
• quick
• dinner
• comfort food