Garlic Butter Pasta

Extremely flavorful and super easy, Garlic Butter Pasta is what needs to be for dinner tonight. This delicious pasta with garlic and butter can be made in 30 minutes or less.

overhead view of garlic butter pasta in a serving bowl.


What Makes Garlic Butter Sauce For Pasta So Good

Well when you put butter and garlic together, you really cannot lose! However, this recipe also pairs those two powerhouse flavors with white wine and lemon juice to make the most taste bud pleasing sauce that is still light and refreshing.

Add in a few more seasonings and you have this extravagant tasting yet simple to make garlic butter pasta. Even the pickiest of eaters will love the simplicity and flavor of this dish.

Garlic Butter Pasta Ingredients

I truly love this butter garlic pasta and I’m sure you will too! From the flavor of the dish and how easy it is to make, especially with things you will already have at home, you cannot go wrong.

Here’s a list of what you need:

  • Butter
  • White wine
  • Fresh lemon juice
  • Minced garlic
  • White pepper
  • Garlic salt
  • Chives or other fresh herbs like parsley or even arugula
  • Angel hair pasta
  • Parmesan cheese
garlic butter pasta ingredients on a tray.

It is better to use salted or unsalted butter in the garlic butter sauce?

Since the only other salt in the recipe is garlic salt, you would probably enjoy using salted butter. However, you can truly use either salted or unsalted.

If you are a little salt-sensitive, I would start with unsalted butter and then you can always add more salt to suit your preference.

Remember, you can always add more, but you can’t take it away so add a little bit at a time and then taste to test the saltiness of the sauce.

Which white wine is best for garlic butter sauce?

You need to use a dry white wine for this recipe. I recommend using Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, or Sauvignon Blanc to make this garlic sauce recipe.

What type of pasta should you use with this Garlic Butter Pasta Sauce?

I am not sure what it is, but I love pairing this garlic butter sauce with angel hair pasta. I feel like you get more of the sauce to noodle ratio and more flavor with each bite.

Some other pasta shape recommendations are:

  • Bucatini
  • Capellini
  • Fettuccine
  • Linguine
  • Spaghetti
  • Vermichelli

However, you can use your favorite pasta or whatever pasta you have in your pantry and cook it according to the package instructions.

Can I substitute garlic powder for minced garlic?

You can but you will need to dial back the garlic by at least half. Garlic powder is more concentrated. If you need to use it, I would use only 1 or 1¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.

As I said before, you can always add more if you need to. Once you’ve added it you can’t take it back and garlic is a super potent (yet delicious) flavor that you need to be a little sparing with.

How to make garlic butter pasta

  1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions for al dente pasta in a large pot.
  2. Drain pasta and place the cooked pasta in a large bowl.
  3. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
  4. Add white wine, lemon juice, minced garlic, white pepper, garlic salt, and chives. Stir and cook until heated through.
garlic butter pasta sauce in a pan.
  1. Pour the garlic butter sauce over the pasta and toss it to coat the pasta with the sauce.
  2. Garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley if desired.
bowl of garlic butter pasta topped with chives and cheese.

Recipe variations

You can customize this pasta dish with some of these recipe variations.

  • If you like spicy dishes, try adding 1/2 teaspoon or more of red pepper flakes.
  • Adding a teaspoon or two of freshly chopped basil adds a very nice touch.
  • Add a handful of baby spinach, or a cup or two of steamed broccoli when you are tossing the pasta together.

Serving suggestions for garlic butter pasta – What is garlic butter sauce good on?

Sometimes I will eat this pasta by itself for a light meatless meal. Other times I’ll add more to it or serve it with sides to make it a heartier meal.

Here is a list of a few of my favorite things to serve with butter garlic pasta:

Can you store garlic butter pasta?

The best way to store this pasta is in an airtight container in the refrigerator or the freezer. This pasta will last for 5 to 7 days in the fridge or up to 2 months in the freezer.

How do you reheat leftovers?

When you are ready to reheat this garlic butter pasta recipe make sure the pasta is in a microwave-safe container. Place it in the microwave and heat it up for 45 to 60 seconds or until it is heated all the way through.

bowl of garlic butter pasta.

Love pasta? Try these recipes!

Favorite Recipes with Garlic

Check out more of my easy pasta recipes and the best budget-friendly recipes here on CopyKat!

overhead view of garlic butter pasta in a serving bowl.

Garlic Butter Pasta

Make a simple Garlic Butter Pasta dinner with just a few ingredients that tastes like you put a lot of work into your meal.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Garlic Butter Pasta, Pasta Recipes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 742kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 tablespoons dry white wine
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pinch ground white pepper
  • 1 pinch garlic salt
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
  • 12 ounces angel hair pasta
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.
  • Add all remaining ingredients except the cheese and pasta, and heat through.
  • Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Place the cooked pasta in a large bowl.
  • Ladle the sauce over warm, fresh pasta.
  • Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 742kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 29g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 487mg | Potassium: 212mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1470IU | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 1.1mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Baltisraul

    5 stars
    I gave this 5 stars because my granddaughter loves it! That and asparagus of all things for an 8 yr old to ask for! haha I took a big bowl of this pasta to her on Sunday.

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