The first day of autumn has finally arrived- and with it the desire to have easy, warming, flavorful meals. If you are like me, you may appreciate meal ideas that can be whipped up in a hurry, in order to feed hungry little bellies. Today, on the blog I am sharing an easy autumn comfort food: my garlic butter parmesan pasta (fall edition).
With only a few basic ingredients- a warming meal can be made in no time at all. Soft pasta, slathered in a buttery-cheesy sauce- the perfect dish for a cozy night in. Thoughtfully paired with crunchy bread and a side salad- or green beans, garlic butter parmesan pasta will leave everyone happy and coming back for more.
If this sounds like a meal you would enjoy, please follow along as we make this cozy dish together in my kitchen.
Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta with An Autumn Twist:
Traditionally, garlic butter parmesan pasta would be made with a long thin noodle (such as a spaghetti noodle). However, for a fun fall twist- I decided to swap the traditional out for the festive. Instead of using spaghetti noodles, I decided to use some fall dried pasta that I bought from my local Aldi.
In fact, this adorable, dried pasta even made its way to our homeschool crafting table- debuting as a charming fall art piece for kids. (To see that idea, check out my post from yesterday- here.) As I like to say, I find my creative inspiration in many places- this week it happened to be in the isle of a grocery store.
Obviously, you do not have to use fall shaped pasta to make this dish- you can generally use any type of pasta that you prefer.
Right, what do you say-how about we put a pot of water on the cooktop to boil? And while we wait for our pasta water to bubble, I will tell you a little story. “Picture this:”
The Story Behind the Pasta Dish:
For a few brief moments we are stepping back in time. We are traveling across the pond, to a quaint little kitchen, where a new bride is preparing a meal for her husband (who is peacefully sleeping in the bedroom above). You see, he is a hardworking husband who works the night shift, so his wife is busy preparing an evening meal to give his spirits a lift.
When she got married, she was prepared to cook many lovely meals (as she was trained as a home economics teacher). However, no one ever really explained to her… that for the rest of her life, she would probably be deciding what her family would eat each day.
“Hmm, think-think-think,” she would challenge her brain. “I need meals that are inexpensive, delicious, and easy to prepare.”
Going through the alphabet, she would play a little game. Starting from the letter “A” she would say, “A” is for Alfredo.” “Yes, yes- that will do nicely!” “B” is for burgers- “Yes that will be swell.” “C” is for curry…and that works as well!”
But as the days would go on, she would sometimes be stumped. For this day was “P” and her brain was puzzled. “P” is for pita, pizza, and pasta- these ideas all sprang to her mind.
“Pasta?! “Yes, that’s it.”
A swift open of the cupboard (creeaakk)- a peek in the fridge (brrr) revealed the pasta, the butter, and the parmesan cheese… but what about a sauce?
Suddenly, a lightbulb flickered on- bringing her back to her teaching days. “The starch in the pasta will make a good sauce. “Oh yes- now a meal is coming together that I can prepare.”
“Delicious and simple,” she smiled with her dimple.
“In nary a jiffy- a cozy meal will be ready for my husband to eat.” “Better yet still- I’ll add it to the meal schedule… for it is bound to be a treat.”
“Garlic butter parmesan pasta- now that has a nice ring,” so she busied herself preparing a pasta meal fit for her king.
~Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta Recipe: A Festive Fall Comfort Food Awaits~
I suppose in a roundabout way, my garlic butter parmesan pasta is an English-inspired meal- that started more than a decade ago in an English kitchen. While it may be very simple-simple is good when it means bellies are filled with warming food.
Now enough of the storytelling, let’s get to the kitchen- for the stars of the show (the ingredients) are waiting.
The Ingredients:
My Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta Recipe:
Easy Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta (Fall Edition)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Salt the boiling water and carefully add the pasta. Cook one minute less than recommended. (Generally, 6-7 minutes).
- Carefully reserve around 1.5 cups of the pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Add 4-5 tablespoons of butter to a saucepan and melt over medium heat. Add herbs, garlic, and salt (if adding). Stir into the butter.
- Add about 1/2- 3/4 cup of the pasta water to the seasoned butter and stir until combined.
- Add the cooked pasta to the seasoned butter mixture and coat evenly.
- Add about half of the parmesan cheese evenly over the pasta and stir. Then add the other half of the parmesan cheese. Turn off the heat and allow the cheese to melt for around a minute. (You can place a lid on the pot as well to speed up the melting.)
- Add the remainder of the pasta water slowly. Turn and mix the pasta, the cheese, and the pasta water until a sauce has been created. Taste and season accordingly. Adding more pasta water if necessary.
- Serve the pasta immediately and enjoy.
Notes
The Science of the Pasta Water: The Secret Weapon
Perhaps one of the best ingredients in this recipe is the pasta water. What? Yes, you read that correctly. While the parmesan cheese, garlic, and butter are a delight- the secret to the sauce lies in the pasta water.
It’s the starches you see. When the pasta bubbles and softens- it releases starch into the water. It is the starch that helps to coat the pasta- and in turn, helps to combine the butter and cheese- by making a smooth and creamy sauce.
Otherwise, without the help of the starchy pasta water- the dish would be dry and clumpy.
The main beauty of the pasta water is that it is “kind of” free. Naturally, if you are making pasta, you already have the pasta water as a “free” ingredient. In fact, pasta water can be a secret ingredient in many pasta recipes. Therefore, I like to think of it as “liquid gold” before I drain it all away.
Frequently Asked Questions About Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta:
1. What pasta types can I use in this recipe?
Spaghetti, linguine, angel hair pasta, or fettucine would be my top picks. However, I also find that the dried pasta “seasonal characters” work well. Plus, they help my children to be even more excited about eating. So, for me, that is certainly a positive.
You can experiment some here and use what you have on hand. It is worth noting that long, thin noodles tend to swirl and move in the sauce smoothly. This movement allows them to be properly coated in the parmesan garlic sauce.
2. Can I use bagged parmesan cheese for this recipe?
Yes, you can use bagged parmesan cheese in a time crunch. However, I highly recommend shredding your own parmesan cheese from a fresh parmesan cheese block. Fresh parmesan melts in a noticeably smoother fashion. It does not have any anti-caking agents (or other additives) added to it. Therefore, in my opinion, fresh parmesan produces a better end result.
3. Can I use fresh garlic instead of garlic powder?
Absolutely! This recipe is flexible and adding fresh garlic is a wonderful addition. 1-2 Tablespoons of minced garlic can be added to the butter- this is- of course, dependent on personal taste.
4. What side dishes pair well with garlic butter parmesan pasta?
My family’s favorite sides to serve with this pasta are toasted bread, green beans, roasted asparagus, or a side salad. Of course, you can serve this dish with any side dish you prefer, but we generally have a vegetable and a bread option. (*See my easy rustic white bread topped with English cheese recipe here.)
5. How to store the leftover pasta?
Store the leftover pasta in a Ziplock bag or an airtight container in the refrigerator.
6. Can this garlic butter parmesan pasta be reheated?
Yes. However, this pasta is generally the best served immediately after preparing. You can reheat the pasta in the microwave- adding a splash of milk, chicken broth, pasta water,or butter if needed to loosen the sauce.
Final Thoughts Until Next Time:
In conclusion, I hope this post on my garlic butter parmesan pasta gives you an easy recipe that you can add to your meal rotation.
Simple meals are sometimes the coziest meals. Feeding a family (filled with little ones) can sometimes be a bit tricky- but this is one meal that I know all my little ones will eat and enjoy.
If you would like to see more English inspired meal ideas, then head over to my traditional English food’s page here. To see more ways to create a cozy autumn, then see my ultimate cozy autumn page here. Or for more pasta dishes on my site, see my lasagna recipe, or my hearty beef and sausage pasta bake here.
If you have enjoyed your stay on my blog page, then don’t forget to subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss a post. For frequent updates and ideas, visit my Cotswold Kitchen Mom Facebook and Pinterest pages as well.
I hope to see you all again soon. Thank you for your support. I appreciate you.
~Elizabeth~
What a wonderful idea! I’m having the grandkids next weekend so the fall craft will be so much fun. Thank you for the ideas! Also, did not know that you were a poet! What a sweet poem!
Love, Aunt Natalie