Garlic Butter Pasta Sauce Recipe

The moment that garlic hits sizzling butter, the entire kitchen suddenly changes warm, fragrant, and impossible to resist. And that’s what I love about a Garlic Butter Pasta Sauce Recipe. It’s the sort of sauce that makes even a plain bowl of pasta seem like something you’d be served in a restaurant, glossy and silky, pert with Parmesan, gilded with golden flavour. Just a few pantry staples, and you’ve got yourself a soothing-as-hell sauce that comes together in minutes.

When I made it for the first time, I could scarcely believe how rapidly the butter underwent its transubstantiation, becoming nutty and velvety even while the garlic slackened toward the most eloquent aromatic base. It’s that same warm feeling you get from a hot bowl like Carrot and Parsnip Soup, or from creamy classics like Mashed Potato Cups, every day ingredients transformed into something memorable.

Whether you’re tossing it with spaghetti, drizzling it over ravioli or using it on sautéd vegetables as a side dish, adding some shrimp or chicken, this Garlic Butter Pasta Sauce Recipe still warms your soul every single time as if it’s the first time tasting this combo. Fast, versatile and deeply satisfying, it’s a weeknight hero you will return to again and again.

This Garlic Butter Pasta Sauce Recipe turns simple pasta into a rich, silky, restaurant-style dish in minutes.
Golden butter and fragrant garlic melt together to create a sauce that hugs every noodle perfectly.
It’s comforting, aromatic, and incredibly easy, ideal for busy nights or quick cravings.
Pair it with cozy sides like Carrot and Parsnip Soup for a full, satisfying meal.
A fast, flavorful sauce you’ll come back to every time you need instant comfort.

Garlic Butter Pasta Sauce Recipe

This Garlic Butter Pasta Sauce Recipe blends golden butter and fragrant garlic into a silky, glossy sauce that transforms any pasta into a luxurious, restaurant-quality dish. Ready in minutes and perfect for weeknights, it pairs beautifully with warm sides like Carrot and Parsnip Soup for a cozy, satisfying meal.

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 minutes mins

Total Time 12 minutes mins

Course pasta

Cuisine Italian-Inspired

Servings 4

Calories 150 kcal

Equipment

• Small saucepan
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Strainer (if cooking pasta together)

Ingredients

  

• For the Garlic Butter Pasta Sauce
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 5 cloves garlic minced
• ¼ cup reserved pasta water or broth
• 1 tbsp lemon juice optional
• 1-2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
• ¼ tsp salt
• ⅛ tsp black pepper
• Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
• Optional: ¼ cup grated Parmesan for a creamy version

Instructions

 

• Melt the butter slowly in a small saucepan over low heat until it becomes glossy and releases a warm, nutty aroma.
• Add the minced garlic and cook gently, letting it soften and perfume the butter without browning to keep the flavor sweet.
• Pour in a splash of pasta water or broth to loosen the butter and create a smooth, silky emulsified sauce.
• Season with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes to balance richness and add heat if desired.
• Stir in lemon juice to brighten the sauce and lift the buttery garlic flavor, especially for lighter pasta dishes.
• Remove from heat and fold in fresh parsley so it stays vibrant and adds a fresh herbal finish.
• Toss immediately with hot pasta or drizzle over vegetables, shrimp, chicken, or warm sides like Carrot and Parsnip Soup for a complete comfort meal.

Notes

• Add Parmesan for a creamy garlic-parmesan variation. 
• Use roasted garlic for a mellow, slightly sweet version.
• Add chili flakes for a spicy garlicky kick.
• Stores 4–5 days in the fridge or up to 2 months in the freezer.
• Reheat on low heat to keep the sauce smooth and silky.

Keyword Cajun pasta sauce, Easy pasta recipe, garlic butter pasta sauce recipe, garlic butter sauce

Share Your Twist on This Garlic Butter Pasta Sauce Recipe!

Did you make your Garlic Butter Pasta Sauce Recipe extra bold with more garlic or add chili flakes for heat?
Did you swirl in Parmesan, add fresh herbs, or toss it with veggies, shrimp, or ravioli?
Maybe you paired it with cozy sides like Carrot and Parsnip Soup for a complete comfort dinner.

Whatever your twist is, we’d love to see it!
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