Quick Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta Ready in 20 Minutes
This quick garlic butter parmesan pasta is on the table in 20 minutes using nothing but pantry staples you already have. It is creamy, buttery, and honestly hard to stop eating.
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Jul 22, 2026
Ingredients
Step-by-Step Method
Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and salt it generously. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package directions until just al dente, usually about 9 to 10 minutes. Before you drain it, scoop out at least half a cup of the starchy cooking water and set it aside in a mug or small bowl.
Toast the Garlic in Butter
While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet or wide saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until it turns lightly golden and smells nutty and fragrant. Do not let it brown too much or it will turn bitter. If using red pepper flakes, add them now.
Bring the Sauce Together
Drain the pasta and immediately add it to the skillet with the garlic butter. Remove the pan from the heat. Add a quarter cup of the reserved pasta water and toss everything together using tongs. The starchy water will start to create a light sauce around the noodles.
Add the Parmesan
Sprinkle in the grated parmesan a little at a time, tossing continuously. Add more pasta water a splash at a time if the sauce looks too thick or the cheese is clumping. You want a smooth, glossy coating on every strand of pasta. Season with black pepper and taste for salt.
Serve Immediately
Divide the pasta into bowls and top with extra parmesan and a scattering of fresh parsley if you like. Serve straight away while it is still hot and saucy, as garlic butter pasta thickens up as it sits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this dairy free?
You can use a good quality vegan butter and a dairy free parmesan style hard cheese. The sauce will be slightly less creamy but still tasty. Just go easy on the salt since some vegan cheeses are quite salty already.
What is the best pasta shape for this recipe?
Long pasta like spaghetti or linguine coats really well with butter sauces. That said, penne and rigatoni also work if that is what you have in the cupboard. The sauce sticks inside the ridges nicely.
My sauce looks greasy. What went wrong?
This usually means the pan was too hot when you added the cheese, or you skipped the pasta water. Add a splash of reserved pasta water and toss vigorously off the heat. The starch helps emulsify the fat back into a smooth sauce.
Can I use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic?
Fresh garlic gives the best flavour here since it is one of the main ingredients. But in a pinch, yes, about a quarter teaspoon of garlic powder per clove works. Add it to the butter for just thirty seconds before tossing in the pasta.
