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Easy One-Pot Garlic Butter Pasta Under $10

one-pot garlic butter pasta under $10 - featured image
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A quick, budget-friendly weeknight dinner that delivers rich garlic butter flavor with minimal effort and cleanup. This one-pot pasta cooks directly in broth for maximum taste.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces (225g) dried pasta (linguine, fettuccine, or spaghetti)
  • 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter
  • 6 to 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 2 ½ cups (590ml) low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
  • 1 ½ cups (355ml) water
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • ½ cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
  • ¼ cup reserved pasta liquid (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients. Slice 6 to 8 garlic cloves into thin, even rounds. Chop 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley. Grate ½ cup of Parmesan cheese.
  2. Bloom the garlic in butter. Place your large pot over medium heat. Add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter and let it melt completely. Once melted, add the sliced garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant and just barely golden.
  3. Add the liquids. Pour in 2 ½ cups of low-sodium broth and 1 ½ cups of water. Add ½ teaspoon of sea salt and ¼ teaspoon of black pepper. Stir and bring to a boil over high heat (about 3 to 4 minutes).
  4. Cook the pasta directly in the pot. Once boiling, add 8 ounces of dried pasta. Reduce heat to medium-high to maintain a steady simmer. Cook according to package directions for al dente (usually 8 to 10 minutes), stirring every 2 minutes to prevent sticking.
  5. Check for doneness. Taste a strand at the 8-minute mark. It should be tender but still have a slight bite. If liquid evaporates before pasta is done, add ¼ cup of water at a time.
  6. Finish with cheese and parsley. Remove pot from heat. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over pasta and toss vigorously with tongs until melted into a creamy sauce. Add chopped parsley and toss again.
  7. Adjust and serve. Taste and add more salt or pepper if needed. If sauce is too thick, stir in a splash of reserved pasta liquid or a tablespoon of butter. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan and red pepper flakes if desired.

Notes

Don’t rush the garlic – use medium heat and stir constantly to avoid bitterness. Stir pasta every 2 minutes to prevent sticking. Reserve ¼ cup cooking liquid before adding cheese in case sauce needs thinning. Always grate fresh Parmesan for smooth melting.

Nutrition

Keywords: one-pot pasta, garlic butter pasta, budget dinner, easy weeknight meal, comfort food, vegetarian pasta

Find it online: https://platebelle.com/easy-one-pot-garlic-butter-pasta-under-10/