One Pot Garlic Butter Pasta (Printable Version)

Creamy single-pot pasta with garlic butter, Parmesan, and fresh herbs.

# 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 - ½ lemon, zest and juice
08 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
09 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Directions:

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 but not browned, being careful not to burn the garlic.
02 - Add uncooked spaghetti or linguine directly to the pot. Pour in vegetable broth or water, ensuring pasta is just submerged. Season lightly with salt.
03 - Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 9-12 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Continue until pasta reaches al dente texture and most liquid has been absorbed.
04 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in grated Parmesan, lemon zest and juice, and chopped parsley. Toss continuously until sauce coats pasta evenly and achieves a creamy consistency. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
05 - Transfer to serving plates and garnish with additional parsley and Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve hot while the sauce is at its silkiest consistency.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The pasta cooks directly in the pot absorbing all that garlic butter flavor while creating its own silky sauce from the starch
  • Everything happens in one vessel meaning you spend more time eating and less time at the sink
02 -
  • The sauce will continue thickening as it cools so serve it right from the stove for the silkiest texture
  • Reserve a splash of pasta cooking liquid before it fully absorbs in case you need to loosen the sauce at the end
03 -
  • Room temperature butter melts more evenly and incorporates into the sauce better
  • Grate your Parmesan fresh from a block instead of using pre grated for the best melting

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