One Pot Garlic Butter Pasta (Printable Version)

A simple yet flavorful pasta dish made in a single pot, featuring aromatic garlic and creamy butter for an irresistibly silky and satisfying meal.

# 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 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.
02 - Add uncooked pasta to the pot. Pour in vegetable broth or water, ensuring pasta is just covered. Season lightly with salt.
03 - Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Stir frequently to prevent sticking. Cook uncovered for 9-12 minutes until pasta is al dente and most liquid has been absorbed.
04 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in grated Parmesan, lemon zest and juice, and chopped parsley. Toss until sauce coats pasta and becomes creamy. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and Parmesan if desired.

# Quick Tips:

01 -
  • The pasta cooks directly in the broth, absorbing all that savory flavor while creating its own silky sauce
  • Cleanup takes literally two minutes because everything happens in one pan
  • It tastes like a restaurant dish but comes together in under 30 minutes with ingredients you probably have
02 -
  • Stir the pasta more often than you think you need to, especially in the first few minutes, or it will stick to the bottom of the pot
  • The sauce continues to thicken as it sits, so if it looks too loose at first, just give it another minute
  • Reserve a splash of pasta water before it fully absorbs, in case you need to loosen the sauce later
03 -
  • Minced garlic from a jar works in a pinch, but fresh garlic gives you that sweet, mellow flavor that makes this dish special
  • If you only have salted butter, skip the added salt and taste at the end to adjust