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    Recipes » Main Course Recipes » Pasta

    Garlic Butter Noodles

    Published: Jan 26, 2023 by Marissa Stevens · 16 Comments

    VegetarianQuick Meals

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Tender noodles twirled in a glistening sauce of butter, olive oil and velvety garlic, Garlic Butter Noodles are a childhood favorite - perhaps even the first dish many of us attempted on our own. A simple, comforting pasta that delivers delectable flavor and takes just 20 minutes to prepare. Serve it as a side dish or main course when you’re in need of a quick pick-me-up.

    Garlic Butter Noodles served in a white bowl and photographed from above.

    Made with just a handful of simple ingredients that I bet you have on hand, this no-fail garlic butter noodles recipe is so easy, you'll learn it by heart. It's rich, creamy, as cheesy as you like, and one of the most reliable recipes you could have in your repertoire.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients You Need to Make Garlic Butter Noodles
    • Two Key Steps
    • Make it a one-dish meal.
    • Or Serve Alongside
    • How to Store and Reheat
    • How to make Garlic Butter Noodles
    • Garlic Butter Noodles
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients You Need to Make Garlic Butter Noodles

    Garlic Butter Noodles Ingredients on a white marble board
    • Pasta: linguine, spaghetti or other long, slender dried pasta or wide egg noodles
    • Butter: salted butter or unsalted butter
    • Olive Oil: good quality extra-virgin olive oil
    • Garlic: fresh garlic cloves
    • Parmesan Cheese: or other hard grating cheese like Pecorino Romano or Asiago
    • Fresh Parsley: ideally Italian parsley (flat leaf parsley)
    • Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

    Ample fresh garlic is important, but olive oil and butter are the real stars here. Many iterations of this recipe call for just butter, but I find that using a blend of the two makes a richer, silkier sauce.

    Two Key Steps

    1. Key step number one to getting this recipe just right is cooking your pasta to a proper al dente (firm to the bite) texture. Under- or overcooking the pasta will make a big difference because the dish is so simple. Though this recipe calls for linguine noodles, I know many have a strong preference for whatever shape of pasta they used growing up. Use your favorite variety and be sure to follow the instructions on the box closely for the best result.
    2. Second key step: don't burn your garlic. This sauce comes together quickly, so keep a close eye on the garlic and reduce the heat on your stove top right away if it starts to brown. For the most luscious sauce, you want the garlic to be tender and mellow.
    Garlic Butter Noodles served in a white bowl.

    Make it a one-dish meal.

    Perhaps the best part about this dish is that it’s endlessly customizable. It can easily be bulked up for a more filling dish by adding cooked proteins and fresh or leftover cooked vegetables. Good options are: leftover roasted or seared chicken, steamed broccoli or green beans, frozen peas, spinach, cooked shrimp, or sliced Italian sausage. You can also embellish the dish with your favorite seasonings like Cajun seasoning or an Italian spice blend. Tailor the recipe to make it your own!

    Or Serve Alongside

    • Slow Roasted Salmon
    • Bacon Wrapped Scallops
    • Cast Iron Pork Chops
    • Arugula Salad

    How to Store and Reheat

    Store Garlic Butter Noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, gently stirring until heated through.

    How to make Garlic Butter Noodles

    This nostalgic family favorite is made of a simple butter-and-oil sauce that delivers every time–which is why it’s such a well-loved staple dish in so many households. Preparation is simple: cook the pasta, make the garlic butter sauce, toss, top with cheese and dig in!

    cooking garlic in butter and olive oil in skillet.
    adding pasta to butter garlic mixture in skillet
    tossing garlic butter pasta in skillet.
    Garlic Butter Noodles served in a white bowl and photographed from above.
    Garlic Butter Noodles served in a white bowl and photographed from above.

    Garlic Butter Noodles

    Marissa Stevens
    Comfort food at its best, you'll be enjoying this luscious noodle dish in just 20 minutes.
    5 from 5 votes
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 514 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 12 ounces linguine or other long, slender dried pasta
    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 5 large garlic cloves minced
    • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
    • 2 ounces parmesan cheese freshly grated
    • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley plus more for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook linguine according to package directions until firm to the bite (al dente), 9-13 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
    • Meanwhile, heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until sizzling. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant and slightly mellowed, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.
    • Once you've drained the pasta, set skillet with the garlic butter mixture over medium heat. Add drained, cooked pasta, ¼ cup of reserved pasta water and parsley; toss well to coat. Cook and stir until heated through, adding more pasta water if pasta seems too dry; season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving bowl or platter; top with grated parmesan cheese and garnish with more parsley if desired. Serve.

    Notes

    1. Use any long, slender pasta you like for this recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 514kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 17gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 301mgPotassium: 226mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 458IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 196mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword easy
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. David Weverka says

      February 24, 2023 at 8:52 pm

      5 stars
      The Garlic butter noodles, YUM!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 26, 2023 at 9:21 am

        So glad you enjoyed them, David!

        Reply
    2. Valentina says

      January 30, 2023 at 9:11 pm

      Simple and utterly delicious! Garlic+butter+pasta!!! Yes please. 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        February 02, 2023 at 1:29 pm

        aww thank you, Valentina!

        Reply
    3. Sally says

      January 29, 2023 at 7:36 am

      5 stars
      I LOVE this so much! This is a valuable recipe to have on hand and you’ve given tips to make it incredible. Because it’s so simple, it’s actually easy to get wrong. Can’t wait to share with my college-age son who just got his first apartment.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 30, 2023 at 1:35 pm

        Thank you, Sally! So well said - in simple recipes with few ingredients it's even more important to get the little details right. I hope your son will love this dish.

        Reply
    4. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

      January 28, 2023 at 10:22 am

      Simple but delicious nonetheless.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 30, 2023 at 1:58 pm

        Thanks so much, Karen.

        Reply
    5. Nanette M says

      January 27, 2023 at 11:41 am

      5 stars
      Brings back my childhood back at home memories and later on in life it was an after midnight kind of meal with friends !!!
      Mille Grazie
      N.
      ** So important not to get that garlic burnt !!!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 27, 2023 at 12:09 pm

        aww...I love that, Nanette! (agreed about the garlic!)

        Reply
    6. David @ Spiced says

      January 27, 2023 at 5:02 am

      5 stars
      You can't ever go wrong with butter and garlic! This is a great (and easy) recipe, and I know it would go over well here in our house. I can almost smell the garlic cooking now!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 27, 2023 at 11:27 am

        I love to hear that, David! Thanks for your kind words.

        Reply
    7. Ben | Havocinthekitchen says

      January 26, 2023 at 3:46 pm

      5 stars
      Yeah, butter, olive oil, and garlic (and often lemon and herbs like thyme or rosemary) make a wonderful addition to pasta - so simple yet so flavourful. Perfect pasta!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 26, 2023 at 4:24 pm

        Thanks, Ben! And yes, always a nice idea to add fresh herbs.

        Reply
    8. Chef mimi says

      January 26, 2023 at 7:03 am

      Mmmm. I’d definitely eat this every day if I wasn’t concerned about carbs! I can gain weight just looking at pasta or bread or oatmeal. But this sounds so good.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        January 30, 2023 at 2:00 pm

        Thanks, Mimi! Yes, it's a perfectly indulgent dish for every-once-in-awhile.

        Reply

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