Ingredients
Scale
Gather up these kitchen staples, and you’re halfway to a delicious meal:
- 12 ounces of your favorite pasta (I usually go for fettuccine or spaghetti)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: a pinch of red pepper flakes for a kick
If you don’t have fresh herbs on hand, dried herbs will work just fine—just use about a third of the amount.
Instructions
Ready to make magic happen in your kitchen? Here’s how:
- Start by cooking the pasta according to the package instructions in a large pot of salted boiling water. I always remind my kids that pasta water should be as salty as the sea—it really brings out the flavor of the noodles.
- While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic powder and let it get fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Once the pasta is cooked to al dente, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water and then drain the rest.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the butter. Toss well to coat the noodles evenly. If the mixture looks a bit dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese, parsley, and basil. Toss until the cheese has melted and everything is well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste, and sprinkle in the red pepper flakes if you’re using them.
- Serve immediately, with a bit more Parmesan and herbs sprinkled on top if desired. Watch the smiles appear around the table!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: Parmesan Herb Butter Noodles, recipe, cooking, food
