30-Minute Garlic Butter Pasta with White Wine Sauce

On a particularly hectic Tuesday evening, with no dinner plan in sight and hungry family members circling the kitchen, I discovered the magic of garlic butter pasta. After rummaging through my pantry and refrigerator, I spotted the essentials: pasta, butter, garlic, and a half-empty bottle of white wine from the weekend. Twenty minutes later, we were twirling our forks through silky strands of pasta coated in a sauce so rich and flavorful that no one believed it came together so quickly.

What Makes Garlic Butter Sauce For Pasta So Good

This garlic butter pasta succeeds where many similar recipes fail because it perfectly balances flavors and textures. The combination of butter and garlic creates a rich foundation, while white wine and lemon juice add acidity, cutting through the richness and preventing the dish from feeling heavy. Using angel hair pasta allows the sauce to coat each strand perfectly, ensuring flavor in every bite.

The addition of white pepper provides subtle warmth without the visual distraction of black pepper specks, and the fresh herbs bring a brightness that elevates the entire dish. By cooking the pasta to al dente and finishing it directly in the sauce, the pasta absorbs flavor while releasing starch that helps emulsify the sauce, creating a silky, cohesive dish that tastes far more complex than its simple ingredient list would suggest.

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 – Creates the rich, velvety base for the sauce
• White wine – Adds acidity and complex flavor to balance the richness
• Fresh lemon juice – Brightens the sauce with citrus notes
• Minced garlic – Provides the signature aromatic foundation
• White pepper – Offers subtle warmth without visual black specks
• Garlic salt – Enhances flavors while adding necessary seasoning
• Fresh chives – Contributes mild onion flavor and vibrant color
• Angel hair pasta – Provides the perfect delicate texture for the light sauce
• Parmesan cheese – Adds savory depth and creamy finish

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.

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.

4. Pour the garlic butter sauce over the pasta and toss it to coat the pasta with the sauce.
5. Garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley if desired.

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:

• Grilled Chicken
• Fried Chicken
• Steak
• Shrimp
• Roasted Vegetables (these you could mix in or serve on the side)
• Bread sticks (Olive Garden Breadsticks are my favorite!)
• Garden Salad
• Freshly toasted cheesy garlic bread

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

• Sauce storage: The garlic butter sauce can be made 2 days ahead and refrigerated separately
• Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 5-7 days
• Freezing: Can be frozen for up to 2 months, though the texture may change slightly
• Reheating: Warm in a microwave for 45-60 seconds, adding a splash of water or chicken broth to revive the sauce
• Make-ahead elements: Measure and prep ingredients in advance, but this dish is best when freshly made

Love pasta? Try these recipes!

• Asiago Tortelloni Alfredo with Grilled Chicken
• Baked Ziti
• Capellini Primavera
• Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara
• Chicken Romano
• Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo
• Pasta with Egg
• Penne alla Vodka
• Spaghetti Casserole
• Steak Alfredo

Favorite Recipes with Garlic

• Garlic Aioli
• Garlic Parmesan Wings
• Papa John’s Garlic Sauce

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