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Roasted garlic pasta is the kind of dish that proves simple ingredients can make the biggest impact. When warm spaghetti meets buttery roasted garlic and freshly grated Parmesan, everything melts together into a silky, fragrant sauce that tastes far more luxurious than the short ingredient list suggests.
This recipe is fast and super easy, especially if you have some roasted garlic in the fridge or freezer. If you don’t, make this basic roasted garlic a day or two in advance.
It’s also wonderfully flexible. Use butter or olive oil, add herbs or red pepper flakes, or make it dairy-free with vegan butter and a sprinkle of nutritional yeast. As long as you have pasta and roasted garlic, you’re halfway to dinner.
What You’ll Like About This Dish
Big flavor, simple ingredients. Roasted garlic and Parmesan do all the heavy lifting.
Quick weeknight option. Ready in the time it takes to boil the spaghetti.
Easy to customize. Add herbs, spice, lemon, or your preferred fats.
Comforting and creamy. The starchy pasta water helps create a silky, restaurant-style sauce.
Ingredient Notes
- Thin spaghetti – Cooks quickly and absorbs the garlic-butter sauce beautifully.
- Roasted garlic – Use your preferred amount for mild or bold garlic flavor.
- Butter or olive oil – Either works as the base of the sauce; choose your favorite.
- Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated melts smoothly and adds savory depth.
- Pasta cooking water – Helps emulsify the sauce and gives it creaminess.
- Parsley / red pepper flakes – Optional, but great for color and a little heat.
Steps to Make Roasted Garlic Pasta
- Cook the spaghetti in salted water until tender.
- Reserve some of the starchy cooking water before draining.
- Combine the hot pasta with butter, roasted garlic, and Parmesan.
- Add pasta water gradually to create a silky sauce.
- Season to taste and finish with herbs or crushed red pepper.
Tips
- Mash the garlic well. The smoother the roasted garlic, the creamier the sauce will be.
- Start with less water. Add a splash at a time so the pasta doesn’t become too thin.
- Use hotter pasta. Heat helps the cheese melt and the sauce emulsify.
- Finish in a skillet. Tossing the pasta over low heat can help everything come together.
Recipe Variations
- Lemony garlic pasta. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a little zest.
- Creamy Alfredo-style. Stir in a splash of cream for extra richness.
- Herbed version. Add basil, parsley, thyme, or chives.
- Spicy twist. Use plenty of crushed red pepper flakes or a pinch of Aleppo pepper.
- Mushroom addition. Sauté sliced mushrooms and toss them in with the pasta.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with a simple green salad or roasted vegetables.
- Pair with grilled chicken or shrimp for added protein.
- Add garlic pull-apart bread or focaccia for a cozy Italian-style meal.
- Garnish with extra Parmesan and fresh herbs.
How to Store (and Reheat)
Refrigerate leftover pasta in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The sauce will thicken as it chills, but it reheats well with a splash of water.
To reheat, warm the pasta gently in a skillet over low heat, adding a bit of water or broth until the sauce loosens and becomes creamy again.
Freezing is not recommended, as the texture of the pasta and sauce may become grainy.
You might also enjoy this hearty Neapolitan pasta dish or this garlic pasta with pancetta and peas. Or try this pasta dish with asparagus and ham.
Roasted Garlic Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 1 tbsp Kosher salt for the cooking water
- 4 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp roasted garlic
- ¼ to ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ to ¾ cup cooking water (from the pasta)
- Fine salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: crushed red pepper flakes
- Optional: chopped parsley
Recommended Equipment
- colander
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil with 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Add the spaghetti and cook as directed on the package.8 ounces spaghetti | 1 tbsp Kosher salt for the cooking water
- Remove about ¾ cup of the cooking water and reserve it. Drain the spaghetti and return it to the pan or a large bowl.
- Add the butter, roasted garlic, and Parmesan cheese to the hot spaghetti. Stir in about ¼ cup of the reserved cooking water, then continue adding more as needed until the pasta is creamy and coated.4 tbsp butter | 2 tbsp roasted garlic | 1/4 to 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese | 1/4 to 3/4 cup cooking water (from the pasta)
- Taste and adjust the seasoning with fine salt and black pepper. Garnish as desired with chopped fresh parsley and crushed red pepper flakes.Fine salt and black pepper | Optional: crushed red pepper flakes | Optional: chopped parsley
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
