I Appreciate How This Recipe Brings Together Two Favorites In One Meal. The Spaghetti Is Lightly Coated In Fragrant Garlic Oil With A Hint Of Parmesan, While The Garlic Bread Is Rich, Buttery, And Perfectly Crisp.
I Also Like That It Uses Pantry Staples And Straightforward Techniques. It’s Easy Enough For A Weeknight Dinner But Delicious Enough To Serve When I Have Family Or Friends Over.
Ingredients
(Here’s a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
1 Pound Spaghetti 4 Quarts Water 2 Tablespoons Salt, Plus More To Taste 1/4 Cup Olive Oil 6 Cloves Garlic, Minced 1/2 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (Optional) 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley 1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese, Plus More For Serving Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper To Taste
1 Loaf Italian Bread, About 24 Inches Long 1 Cup (2 Sticks) Unsalted Butter, Softened 8 Cloves Garlic, Minced 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley 1/4 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder (Optional) Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper To Taste
Directions
I Bring 4 Quarts Of Water To A Rolling Boil In A Large Pot And Add 2 Tablespoons Of Salt.
I Add The Spaghetti And Stir Immediately To Prevent Sticking. I Cook It According To The Package Directions Until Al Dente, Reserving 1 Cup Of Pasta Water Before Draining.
While The Pasta Cooks, I Heat Olive Oil In A Large Skillet Over Medium Heat. I Add The Minced Garlic And Red Pepper Flakes, Sautéing For 1–2 Minutes Until Fragrant And Lightly Golden.
I Add The Drained Spaghetti To The Skillet And Toss To Coat In The Garlic Oil. I Pour In About 1/2 Cup Of The Reserved Pasta Water And Toss Again, Adding More A Little At A Time Until The Sauce Reaches My Desired Consistency.
I Stir In The Chopped Parsley And Grated Parmesan, Seasoning With Salt And Pepper. I Toss Until The Cheese Melts And The Sauce Becomes Creamy.
In A Bowl, I Mix The Softened Butter, Minced Garlic, Parsley, Parmesan, And Garlic Powder If Using. I Season With Salt And Pepper And Mix Well.
I Slice The Italian Bread Lengthwise And Generously Spread The Garlic Butter Mixture Over The Cut Sides.
I Preheat The Oven To 375°F (190°C), Place The Bread Cut-Side Up On A Baking Sheet, And Bake For 10–12 Minutes Until Golden And Bubbly.
For Extra Crispiness, I Broil The Bread For 1–2 Minutes, Watching Carefully. I Let It Cool Slightly Before Slicing.
I Divide The Spaghetti Onto Plates, Sprinkle With Extra Parmesan And Parsley If Desired, And Serve Immediately With Warm Garlic Bread On The Side.
Servings And Timing
This Recipe Makes 6 Servings.
Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 30 Minutes Total Time: About 45 Minutes
Variations
I Sometimes Add Sautéed Shrimp Or Grilled Chicken To The Spaghetti For Extra Protein. If I Want More Depth, I Stir In A Splash Of Lemon Juice Or A Little Zest For Brightness.
For The Garlic Bread, I Occasionally Mix In Shredded Mozzarella For A Cheesy Twist. If I Prefer A Spicier Kick, I Increase The Red Pepper Flakes Or Add A Pinch Of Cayenne.
Storage/Reheating
I Store Leftover Spaghetti In An Airtight Container In The Refrigerator For Up To 3 Days. To Reheat, I Warm It In A Skillet With A Splash Of Water Or Olive Oil To Loosen The Sauce.
I Wrap Leftover Garlic Bread In Foil And Reheat It In The Oven At 350°F (175°C) For About 8–10 Minutes To Restore Crispiness. I Avoid Microwaving The Bread Since It Can Become Soft.
FAQs
Can I Use A Different Type Of Pasta?
I Can Substitute Linguine, Fettuccine, Or Even Penne If That’s What I Have Available.
How Do I Prevent The Garlic From Burning?
I Keep The Heat At Medium And Stir Constantly, Removing The Pan From Heat If The Garlic Starts Browning Too Quickly.
Can I Make The Garlic Bread Ahead Of Time?
I Often Prepare The Garlic Butter And Spread It On The Bread Ahead Of Time, Then Refrigerate Until Ready To Bake.
What Can I Serve With This Meal?
I Like Pairing It With A Simple Green Salad Or Roasted Vegetables For A Balanced Dinner.
Can I Freeze The Garlic Bread?
I Can Freeze The Assembled, Unbaked Garlic Bread Wrapped Tightly, Then Bake It Directly From Frozen, Adding A Few Extra Minutes.
Conclusion
I Find This Spaghetti Garlic Bread Meal To Be The Perfect Combination Of Comfort And Simplicity. The Fragrant Garlic Pasta And Crispy, Buttery Bread Complement Each Other Beautifully. It’s A Reliable Recipe I Turn To Whenever I Want A Warm, Satisfying Dinner That Everyone Enjoys.
Spaghetti garlic bread is the ultimate comfort food dinner with perfectly cooked pasta tossed in garlicky olive oil and served alongside buttery, crispy homemade garlic bread. An easy family meal that is simple, flavorful, and satisfying.
Author:Sarah
Prep Time:20 minutes
Cook Time:25 minutes
Total Time:45 minutes
Yield:6 servings
Category:Main Course
Method:Boiling & Baking
Cuisine:Italian-American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the Spaghetti
1 pound spaghetti
4 quarts water
2 tablespoons salt (plus more to taste)
1/4 cup olive oil
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the Garlic Bread
1 loaf Italian bread (about 24 inches long)
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
8 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Boil the Pasta
Bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add 2 tablespoons of salt.
Cook the Spaghetti
Add spaghetti and stir immediately. Cook 8–10 minutes, until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
Prepare Garlic Oil
While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden (do not brown).
Combine Pasta and Sauce
Add drained spaghetti to the skillet. Toss to coat. Add about 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and toss again. Add more water gradually if needed for a silky texture.
Finish the Spaghetti
Stir in parsley and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper. Toss until cheese melts and sauce becomes creamy.
Make Garlic Butter
In a bowl, mix softened butter, minced garlic, parsley, Parmesan, garlic powder (if using), salt, and pepper.
Prepare the Bread
Slice Italian bread lengthwise. Spread garlic butter generously over cut sides.
Bake Garlic Bread
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Place bread cut-side up on a baking sheet. Bake 10–12 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Broil for Crispiness
Broil 1–2 minutes for extra crisp edges. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
Serve
Slice bread into pieces. Plate spaghetti, sprinkle with extra Parmesan and parsley, and serve with warm garlic bread.
Notes
For extra richness, add a splash of heavy cream to the spaghetti.
Add grilled chicken or shrimp for protein.
Use fresh garlic for the best flavor impact.
Store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 3 days.