Creamy Garlic Butter Noodles Recipe

There is just something that is oh-so-satisfying about a bowl of buttered noodles. Add some garlic, lemon juice, and parsley and you have one of the easiest and most flavorful noodle dishes that you could ever imagine. This recipe was curated by chef Kristen Carli, and when asked why this dish has a sweet spot in her heart, her answer was simple. "I love garlic butter! Is there anything better in this world?" We hear you, Kristen! 

As the current recipe stands, there's just pasta and garnishes, which are absolutely efficient enough for a meal. However, if you'd like to add some protein to your pasta for a pre-workout meal or something of the sort, Carli says that it pairs well with both salmon and shrimp. "If you are a vegetarian, it would be really good paired with steamed green beans and chickpeas." Is your mouth watering yet?

Keep scrolling to find out how to make what's sure to be your new go-to pasta dish. It's a crowd-pleaser for kids and adults alike, and from start to finish, it only takes about 20 minutes. It doesn't get much better than that!

Make sure you have all the ingredients needed before you begin cooking. You'll need some spaghetti noodles for your carb base, but Carli shares that you can sub any other type of noodle that you'd like. You'll also need some unsalted butter, minced garlic (you can mince it yourself or buy the pre-minced jarred version). Lemon juice is another must-have item that you will need to have out, and last but certainly not least, a bunch of fresh parsley. Because let's be honest, what's a pasta dish without a beautiful garnish?

Open your box or bag of pasta. Then, grab a large pot and add water. Turn up the heat on the stove and bring the water to a boil before you add the noodles. Carli says it's important to boil the water prior to adding the pasta because "this way, the noodles will cook quickly." Cook the pasta until it's al dente. At its best, al dente pasta should be slightly firm to the bite. Alternatively, you can toss a strand of spaghetti against a wall and see if it sticks. Why not? 

Take the pasta off of the stove when it's finished cooking. While you're waiting for it to cool off a bit, cube your butter into smaller pieces. This ensures that it will not only melt more quickly, but it will also be more evenly distributed throughout your dish. You'll definitely want a generous coat of butter on every bite. The next step is also as easy as 1-2-3 and you're getting close to the main event! Keep scrolling for more! 

Drain the pasta but be sure to keep a 1/2 cup of pasta water. Set it aside because you'll need it in just a second. In a large bowl, mix the drained pasta, cubed butter, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Grab that pasta water that you set aside and throw it in the mix as well. Toss it all to combine. The heat from the noodles should melt the butter and everything should be coated with loads of flavor. 

Okay, this is the last step and then you can finally kick back, relax, and enjoy a big ol' bowl of noodles. After mixing everything else together, you want to add your chopped parsley on top. Go ahead and give it another good toss to combine everything together. If you choose, you can add your protein or your veggies (or both) to the top. Plate the noodles and enjoy this filling main course! 

Garlic butter noodles make for a great base and, while they could be enjoyed on their own, there's plenty of opportunity for bulking up the dish and making it more exciting all around. The easiest way to serve these noodles is to pick a protein to pair with them — something like Mediterranean grilled chicken would work well with the garlicky flavor of the pasta. Want to keep the dish vegetarian? No worries, as something like this fiery sriracha tofu would add a kick of heat to an otherwise pretty mild dish.

If you don't necessarily want to add anything to the noodles, you can focus more on prepping an excellent side dish. This roasted veggie pesto quinoa salad recipe will add both bulk and brightness to your meal, whereas this broccoli bacon Brussels salad will add both protein and greens in one go.

Finally, if you want to enjoy the noodles on their own but do want an accompanying beverage, you can't go wrong with classic lemonade to help cut through the richness of the buttery pasta itself. For those who enjoy a good cocktail with dinner, a traditional gimlet will add just the citrusy, gin-forward flavor profile to complement the meal.

Since this recipe yields six servings of pasta, there's a good chance you'll have some leftovers. Luckily, the pasta will store well in the fridge for up to two to 3 days, but be sure to let it cool down completely before sealing it up and storing.

As for reheating the pasta, you've got a couple of options on that front, and the easiest one is to microwave the pasta in 1-minute bursts until it is warmed through. Be sure to stir the pasta in between minutes so it all reheats evenly. You could also reheat the pasta on the stovetop over medium-low heat, and it may be beneficial to add a little bit of extra butter and/or lemon juice to help loosen up the pasta. Just be sure to stir often so the pasta doesn't scorch and so that the butter evenly reheats throughout the noodles.