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Homemade garlic butter parmesan pasta dish made with fall shaped dried pasta.
Elizabeth

Easy Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta (Fall Edition)

Garlic butter parmesan pasta is an easy dish to prepare. With only a few simple ingredients, this recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight. And, by adding some fun fall-inspired dried pasta- this dish is idea for a cozy fall evening in.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams Fall Dried Pasta Note: I used the whole package of fall dried pasta to feed my hungry family. However, you can also use spaghetti noodles for a more classic presentation. You can also cut this recipe down to size.
  • 8-10 cups Fresh water for boiling the pasta *Enough water to cover the pasta in the pot.
  • ½ tsp Salt for the boiling water
  • 1¼ cup Salted Pasta Water *I like to reserve around 1½ cups of the liquid my pasta cooked in.
  • 4-5 Tbsp Salted Butter *Unsalted butter is also fine.
  • 3/4 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Salt *This can be adjusted up or down to suit individual taste. Note: if using the salted butter- and if you salt your boiling water- this may be enough to meet your seasoning needs.
  • 1/2 tsp Provence Herbs Mix *Another option is to use dried parsley or Italian seasoning. (Actually, you could even use fresh chopped parsley if you wanted.) You can experiment with some different herbs or flavor combos here.)
  • 6 oz Grated Parmesan cheese *Freshly grated parm cheese is preferred as it melts more smoothly. The amount of cheese can also be adjusted. My family likes cheese!

Equipment

  • 1 large, heavy bottomed saucepan/pot

Method
 

  1. 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).
  2. Carefully reserve around 1.5 cups of the pasta water before draining the pasta.
  3. 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.
  4. Add about 1/2- 3/4 cup of the pasta water to the seasoned butter and stir until combined.
  5. Add the cooked pasta to the seasoned butter mixture and coat evenly.
  6. 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.)
  7. 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.
  8. Serve the pasta immediately and enjoy.

Notes

*Fresh garlic can be used in place of the garlic powder.
*Red pepper flakes or black pepper can be added for a bit of spice.
*If the pasta begins to cool and the cheese is looking too thick, add a splash of the pasta water and a bit of heat and it will soon loosen the sauce.
*Many different pasta types can be used for this recipe.
*This is a flexible recipe than can easily be adapted, with small changes, to suit your personal needs.