Garlic Butter Pasta

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This Garlic Butter Pasta recipe is a delicious and comforting meal the whole family will eat up. The garlic butter pasta sauce comes together in less than 30 minutes, making this the perfect weeknight meal.

 

top-down view of finished garlic butter pasta and parma ham served in a bowl with a silver fork

Nutrition

Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 246mg | Potassium: 227mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.8mg

 

Garlic Butter Pasta is a heavenly mix of perfectly cooked spaghetti bathed in melted butter and aromatic garlic, jazzed up with savory Parma Ham and sweet baby plum tomatoes. This simple recipe is full of flavor and ideal to serve a crowd or just your family.

Spaghetti is so comforting and filling and a plate full of garlicky buttery spaghetti can be hard to beat. Paired with parma ham, it becomes a dish that’s so good you’ll be making it over and over again any day of the week.

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Parma Ham adds the perfect amount of salty sweet meat flavor to the garlic butter pasta sauce. Top your pasta with your favorite parmesan cheese and herbs to take this comforting meal to the next level.

And if you love this easy pasta dish, you’ll want to try my 15-minute Lemon Butter Pasta.

top-down view of finished garlic butter pasta and parma ham served in a bowl with a silver fork

Butter, garlic and pasta are staples in most homes so this recipe is perfect for busy weekdays and last-minute dinners. It’s ready in less than 30 minutes and will leave your house smelling better than your favorite Italian restaurant.

Why Make This Recipe

  • Quick and Easy Preparation – With just a handful of pantry staple ingredients, you can whip up a restaurant-worthy dish without spending hours in the kitchen.
  • It Smells Incredible – Let the irresistible aroma of garlic and butter draw you into the kitchen, creating an inviting atmosphere that sets the stage for a delicious meal.
  • It’s a Family Favorite – Appeal to a wide range of tastes with a dish that’s universally loved, making it a perfect option for family dinners or gatherings with friends.

Ingredient Notes

  • Spaghetti – Substitute with any pasta shape you prefer, such as fettuccine, linguine, or penne.
  • Olive Oil – Use your favorite light, neutral-flavored oil.
  • Parma Ham – Parma ham is a dry-cured ham with a salty and savory flavor. Prosciutto can be a suitable substitute for Parma Ham.
  • Unsalted Butter – Adds richness and creaminess to the dish. If using salted butter, adjust the salt content in the recipe accordingly.
  • Garlic – Aromatic and flavorful, garlic adds depth to the dish. Adjust the quantity based on your preference, and feel free to use pre-minced garlic for convenience.
  • Baby Plum Grape Tomatoes – These Small, sweet tomatoes add a burst of freshness. Cherry tomatoes or regular grape tomatoes can be used as substitutes.
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese – A hard, aged cheese that adds a salty and nutty flavor. Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano can be used as alternatives.

Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!

For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

How to Make Garlic Butter Pasta

  1. Cook the pasta till al dente, drain and set aside somewhere warm.cooked spaghetti for the garlic butter pasta with parma ham drained and in a colander
  2. Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat and cook the ham for 2 minutes. Remove the ham and set it aside.
  3. Then add butter to the same pot and cook over low-medium heat, until the butter is just melted.
  4. Next add the minced garlic and cook for about 3 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant but not burnt.adding garlic to the sauce ingredients for the garlic butter pasta with parma ham
  5. Add in the cut tomatoes and the Parma Ham and fry for a minute or so, until the tomatoes just start to soften.adding tomatoes to the sauce for the garlic butter pasta with parma ham recipe
  6. Switch off the heat and stir in the warm cooked pasta. Serve in bowls with all the extras you prefer.finished garlic butter pasta with parma ham served in a large bowl

Expert Tips

  • Cook the pasta al dente, following the package instructions. This ensures a firm texture that holds up well to the rich garlic butter sauce.
  • Before draining the pasta, reserve a cup of pasta cooking water. Adding a splash to the sauce can help achieve the desired consistency and enhance the overall flavor.
  • This is a delicious but simple Italian recipe. Spice it up with red pepper chili flakes or add in parmesan cheese and chopped herbs for extra flavor to suit your tastebuds.
  • Cut your Parma Ham into small slices to cook up quicker and to easily grab a slice with your fork full of spaghetti.
  • Cook the minced garlic just until it becomes fragrant but not browned. Overcooking garlic can result in a bitter taste.
  • I prefer spaghetti for this recipe but any shape pasta will work great with the garlic butter sauce.
slices of parma ham ready to be prepared for the garlic butter pasta with parma ham recipe

Delicious Variations

  • Add vegetables – Stir in fresh vegetables to bulk up the recipe and add more nutrition.
  • Spicy Sauce – Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the sauce for a bit of head.
  • Fresh herbs – Top the garlic butter noodles with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh herbs before serving.
hands holding a bowl filled with a serving of garlic butter pasta with parma ham recipe

Prep and Storage

  • Prep – Cook the pasta a bit earlier and toss it with a small amount of olive oil to prevent sticking.
  • Storage – Store any leftover Garlic Butter Pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
  • Freeze – While pasta can be frozen, the texture of the dish may change slightly upon thawing.
  • Reheat – When reheating, add a splash of water or broth to maintain the pasta’s moisture. Heat on the stovetop over low to medium heat to avoid overcooking.

FAQs

What’s a good substitute for parma ham?

Prosciutto is an excellent substitute for Parma Ham. Both offer a similar salty and savory profile, enhancing the dish.

Can I use a different type of pasta?

While the recipe suggests spaghetti, feel free to experiment with your favorite pasta shape. Fettuccine, linguine, or penne can work well.

Can I make this pasta dish gluten free?

Use gluten-free pasta, widely available in most grocery stores, to make this recipe gluten-free.

Similar Recipes

Serving with

This creamy comfort food is a complete meal in itself but below are a few suggestions of sides to go with it if you prefer;

  • A large skillet to help make cooking a breeze.
  • This cheese grater is for topping your pasta with fresh parmesan.
  • For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

Thank you for reading my garlic butter pasta sauce recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

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top-down view of finished garlic butter pasta and parma ham served in a bowl with a silver fork
Print Recipe
5 from 5 votes

Garlic Butter Pasta

The whole family will love this easy and delicious comfort food!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American, Italian, Western
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 388kcal
Author: Bintu Hardy

Ingredients

  • 14 ounces (400g) spaghetti
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 7 ounces (200g) Parma Ham cut into smaller slices
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 12 baby plum grape tomatoes, cut in half
  • grated Parmesan cheese to taste

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions, till al dente, drain and set aside somewhere warm.
  • Heat olive oil in pot over medium heat and cook the cut up ham for 2 minutes.
  • Remove the ham and set aside. Add butter to the same pot and cook over low-medium heat until the butter is melted.
  • Then add the minced garlic and cook for about 3 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant but not burnt.
  • Add in the cut tomatoes and the Parma Ham and fry for a minute until the tomatoes just start to soften.
  • Switch off the heat and stir in the warm pasta and parmesan.
  • Serve pasta in bowls and add any extras that you prefer.
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Notes

    • Cook the pasta al dente, following the package instructions. This ensures a firm texture that holds up well to the rich garlic butter sauce.
    • Before draining the pasta, reserve a cup of pasta cooking water. Adding a splash to the sauce can help achieve the desired consistency and enhance the overall flavor.
    • This is a delicious but simple Italian recipe. Spice it up with red pepper chili flakes or add in parmesan cheese and chopped herbs for extra flavor to suit your tastebuds.
    • Cut your Parma Ham into small slices to cook up quicker and to easily grab a slice with your fork full of spaghetti.
    • Cook the minced garlic just until it becomes fragrant but not browned. Overcooking garlic can result in a bitter taste.
    • I prefer spaghetti for this recipe but any shape pasta will work great with the garlic butter sauce.
    • Storage – keep leftovers in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 246mg | Potassium: 227mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.8mg

 

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Recipe Rating




5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    That’s so fascinating to see what the Parma ham inner workings are like! Thanks for showcasing that. And of course, the pasta looks so delish. Salt and garlic, what more do you need?

  2. 5 stars
    Pasta is one of my go-to meals. This garlic butter pasta looks dreamy! Can’t wait to make it tonight!