Insanely Delicious Garlic Butter Pasta Recipe
This Insanely Delicious Garlic Butter Pasta recipe features tender garlic cloves confit in extra virgin olive oil, blended into a creamy garlic butter, and tossed with perfectly cooked pasta in a flavorful, peppery sauce. Finished with freshly grated Parmesan and optional rosemary, this dish is a comforting and aromatic pasta meal that’s easy to prepare and bursting with rich garlic flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Garlic Confit
- 1 whole bulb of garlic, cloves peeled
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 – 3 sprigs fresh rosemary (plus extra for serving, optional)
Garlic Butter
- 100 grams butter, room temperature
- Garlic confit cloves, drained
For the Pasta
- 200 grams dried pasta or 300 grams fresh pasta
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Reserved pasta water (about 1 cup)
- Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, for serving
Instructions
- Confit the Garlic: Preheat the oven to 160°C (320°F). Place the peeled garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs in a small baking dish or loaf pan so they are not too spread out. Pour the extra virgin olive oil over the cloves, ensuring they are mostly covered. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes until the garlic turns golden and becomes soft.
- Prepare the Garlic Butter: Drain any excess oil from the garlic cloves (reserve the oil for other uses as it is flavorful). Blend the softened garlic cloves with the room temperature butter using a mini food processor or stick blender, or mash thoroughly by hand until smooth and well mixed. Transfer the garlic butter onto plastic wrap or parchment paper, form into a log or block, wrap tightly, and refrigerate until hardened.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve one cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Make the Sauce: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add a generous portion of the garlic butter and stir around the pan as it melts, keeping the heat moderate to avoid burning the garlic. Once melted, season the butter with black pepper, mixing well.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add about 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water to the skillet. Using a flat whisk, vigorously whisk the mixture while shaking the pan to emulsify the sauce. Add the drained pasta directly into the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat. Allow the pasta and sauce to gently bubble for around 30 seconds, adding more pasta water if necessary to loosen the sauce.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh rosemary leaves if desired. Serve immediately for a rich and flavorful garlic butter pasta experience.
Notes
- Keep the garlic-infused olive oil to use in other recipes such as salad dressings or for drizzling over vegetables.
- If you prefer less intense garlic flavor, reduce the quantity of garlic or adjust the amount of garlic butter used in the sauce.
- Fresh rosemary adds a fragrant herbal note but is optional.
- You can prepare the garlic butter in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and texture.
- Be careful not to burn the garlic butter sauce by keeping the heat moderate during cooking.
Keywords: Garlic butter pasta, garlic confit, easy pasta recipe, Italian pasta, creamy garlic sauce, homemade garlic butter, Parmesan pasta
