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Delicious Garlic Pasta dish featured in a food blog article.

Easy Creamy Garlic Pasta

This recipe transforms simple garlic and pasta into a flavorful and comforting dish. By gently cooking the garlic and creating a stable emulsion with pasta water, a creamy sauce is achieved without the need for cream.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound pasta spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 8-10 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 cup reserved pasta water
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • large pot
  • large skillet
  • colander
  • measuring cups and spoons
  • knife
  • cutting board
  • Tongs or pasta server

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
  2. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  3. While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
  4. Add the sliced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using).
  5. Cook, stirring frequently, until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden, about 3-5 minutes. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
  6. Remove the skillet from the heat and carefully add about 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water to the skillet. The mixture will sizzle.
  7. Stir constantly to create an emulsion.
  8. Return the skillet to low heat and add the drained pasta.
  9. Toss to coat, adding more pasta water as needed to create a creamy sauce.
  10. Remove the skillet from the heat.
  11. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  12. Toss well to combine.
  13. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.

Notes

For a richer flavor, use a combination of Parmesan and Pecorino Romano cheese. Be careful with the Pecorino Romano, as it can be quite salty. Thinly slicing the garlic ensures even cooking and prevents burning. Adding the pasta water off the heat initially prevents the garlic from scorching. Garlic pasta is best enjoyed fresh.