Garlic Butter Linguine (Print)

Linguine coated in garlic butter and fresh parsley for a simple, tasty Italian-inspired dish.

# What you'll need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz linguine

→ Sauce

02 - 6 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 6 large garlic cloves, finely minced
04 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
05 - Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
06 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
07 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Finishing

08 - 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
09 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
10 - Extra lemon wedges, to serve

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
02 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant without browning. Stir in crushed red pepper flakes and lemon zest if using.
03 - Add drained linguine to the skillet and toss to coat in garlic butter. Gradually add reserved pasta water to achieve a smooth sauce consistency.
04 - Season with sea salt and black pepper. Stir in chopped parsley and half of the Parmesan cheese if using. Toss well to combine.
05 - Plate immediately, garnished with remaining Parmesan and extra lemon wedges alongside.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than ordering delivery, but tastes like you actually know what you're doing in the kitchen.
  • The silky sauce clings to every strand of pasta in a way that feels genuinely luxurious without any complicated techniques.
  • You can keep the pantry staples on hand and make this whenever the craving hits, no shopping trip required.
02 -
  • Garlic burns in seconds, especially once the pasta water gets added, so keep the heat at medium and stay present while you're cooking.
  • That reserved pasta water is not optional—it's what transforms this from oily to silky, so don't skip it or drain it down the sink.
  • Timing is everything here; the whole dish should come together in the same skillet in under five minutes, so have everything prepped and ready before you start.
03 -
  • Use a box grater to shave fresh Parmesan right before serving instead of pre-grated—the difference in texture and flavor is noticeable and worth the thirty seconds it takes.
  • Invest in good sea salt and a pepper mill; these two seasonings appear in every meal, so they're worth getting right from the start.
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