Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Silky pasta tossed with melted butter, garlic, and sharp Parmesan—no cream needed. Pasta water does the heavy lifting to create a glossy, clinging sauce in under 15 minutes.
- Total time
- 12 min
- Servings
- 2
- Calories
- 485
- Protein
- 16g
Ingredients
4 items — tap to check off
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Open the appInstructions
Step 1
Boil salted water in a large skillet, then add pasta and cook until al dente, ~10 minutes.
Step 2
Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain pasta and set aside.
Step 3
Melt butter over medium heat, add garlic, and cook until fragrant, ~60 seconds—don't let it brown.
Step 4
Return pasta to the skillet, add Parmesan and 0.5 cup pasta water, then toss until sauce coats every strand.
Step 5
Add more pasta water a splash at a time if the sauce looks dry—it should cling but not pool.
Step 6
Season with salt and black pepper to taste, then serve immediately.
Tools you’ll need
- large skillet or pot
- wooden spoon or pasta fork
- measuring cup
- microplane or box grater
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