Straightforward Garlic Butter Noodles at Home

Love a after-work pasta recipe? You NEED to try these Straightforward Peanut Noodles as well as our 20 Minute Pesto Pasta, this Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta (also 20 minutes!), AND this Pasta Puttanesca.

Why you’ll love this family regular recipe!

Even though this garlic butter noodles recipe is one that I make all of the time, I’ve never shared the recipe here. I think it only seemed too simple and basic. It’s Worth the pot, though, and you certainly need to give it a try!

You can serve the noodles on their own but I highly recommend throwing some veggies in the oven and adding them on top. It makes such a well rounded meal. They’re even great for picky kids – my daughter always loves this meal (veggies and all)!

Why you’ll love this:

• One pan for the veggies, one pot for the noodles – minimal cleanup and nothing fussy about it.
• It solves decision fatigue – this is the kind of recipe you don’t have to think about. Garlic, butter, noodles, done.
• Filling without meat – the roasted veggies and parmesan round it out so nobody’s left wondering where the protein is.
• Endlessly flexible – swap in whatever veggies are in your fridge or whatever noodles you have on hand.
• Genuinely kid-approved – my daughter eats this one, veggies and all, no negotiating required.

Ingredients needed for garlic noodles

The ingredients for this dish are listed fully down in the recipe card but let’s briefly go over the pantry staples needed including a few substitutions you can make as desired!

• Pasta – spaghetti noodles are my go-to here, but honestly any noodle works. We use gluten-free noodles often since my partner has a mild gluten intolerance.
• Butter – the real star of the dish, so reach for a good one like Kerrygold. Salted or unsalted both work, simply adjust any additional salt to taste.
• Garlic – 6 cloves, finely minced. Use less if you’re garlic-shy, more if you’re like me and think there’s no such thing as too much.
• Zucchini, bell pepper, and cauliflower – my regular roasted veggie combo for this dish, but truly any veggies you have on hand will work.
• Seasoning blend – Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder for the roasted veggies.
• Parmesan and fresh parsley – for topping. Entirely optional but adds a nice finishing touch.

How to Make Butter Noodles

Only a reminder that you can find the FULL written recipe down in the recipe card, but I want to quickly go over how to make it with step-by-step photos:)

1. Roast the veggies. THIS IS OPTIONAL! Toss the zucchini, bell pepper, and cauliflower with olive oil and your seasoning blend right on the sheet pan, then spread them out in a single layer. Roast until they’re tender and only starting to crisp at the edges – that’s where all the good flavor is.

1. Make the garlic butter. While the veggies roast, melt the butter in a ​large skillet over medium heat and add in the minced garlic. Let it sauté for a couple of minutes, stirring often – you want it fragrant and only golden, not browned!

1. Boil the noodles. According to package directions, cook your pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente, then drain it (but save a cup of pasta water first – you’ll want it in a second).

1. Toss it all together. Add the drained noodles right into the garlic butter and toss to coat, splashing in reserved pasta water until everything’s glossy and clinging together. Serve it up with the roasted veggies, parmesan, and fresh herbs on top!
   Store leftovers in an airtight container.

Recipe Tips

• Cook the pasta al dente. It’ll finish cooking a bit more once it hits the hot garlic butter, so don’t let it go soft in the pot.
• Always save your pasta water. That starchy water is what turns melted butter into an actual clingy sauce instead of simply noodles with butter on them.
• Watch the garlic closely. It goes from fragrant to burnt fast – keep the heat at medium and stir often.
• Don’t skip the roasted veggies if you can help it. They turn this from a side dish into dinner, and the crispy edges are worth the extra 30 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Variations and substitutions

• Veggies: You can use whatever veggies you would like! I often throw other things in based on what’s in season and what I happen to have in the fridge that week.
• Spices: Feel free to change up the spices! The combo listed for roasting the vegetables is a go-to of mine, but I’ve also used curry spices and even taco seasoning.
• Make it vegan: Simply use a vegan butter and omit the parmesan cheese or use a plant-based alternative to cook this vegan and dairy free.
• Add protein: If you’re not concerned with keeping this meal vegetarian, you can add chicken, shrimp or serve alongside salmon. Keep it vegetarian and still add protein with crispy baked tofu.