One Pot Garlic Butter Pasta (Printable)
Creamy, aromatic pasta cooked in one pot with garlic butter and Parmesan. Ready in 25 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta Base
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
08 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil and butter in a large pot or deep skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and pale golden, taking care not to brown or burn the garlic.
02 - Add uncooked spaghetti or linguine directly to the pot. Pour in vegetable broth or water, ensuring pasta is just submerged. Lightly season with salt.
03 - Bring to a rapid boil, then reduce heat to maintain a steady simmer. Cook uncovered for 9-12 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until pasta reaches al dente texture and most liquid has been absorbed.
04 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in grated Parmesan, lemon zest, lemon juice, and chopped parsley. Toss continuously until sauce emulsifies and coats each strand evenly. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
05 - Transfer to warm serving bowls immediately. Garnish with additional fresh parsley and grated Parmesan if desired. Serve while hot and creamy.
# Expert Hacks:
01 -
- The pasta cooks directly in its sauce, creating that perfectly silky coating that usually takes far more effort
- Everything happens in one vessel, meaning maximum flavor with minimum cleanup
02 -
- Reserve about half a cup of the cooking liquid before reducing, in case you need to loosen the sauce at the end
- The pasta continues absorbing liquid even after you turn off the heat, so stop cooking while there's still some liquid visible
03 -
- Break long pasta in half if your pot isn't deep enough, which also makes stirring easier
- For extra protein, stir in some white beans or shredded cooked chicken during the last minute