Browned Butter Garlic Noodles

Six ingredients and 25 minutes are all you need to create a quick pasta dish that’s FULL of flavor. And these garlic butter noodles aren't just any buttered noodles...so what sets them apart? Browned butter.

With just enough garlic, a bit of Parmesan, and some fresh parsley and spinach to finish, these noodles are a BIG step up from the classic kids menu offering.

How to make garlic butter noodles

This recipe is a great example of how a few all-star ingredients can come together to create a dish that’s FULL of flavor in very little time.

1. Get the pasta cooking—the key is to slightly under-cook the pasta (it’lll continue to cook in the pan with the browned butter). 
2. Meanwhile, start browning the butter in a large sauté pan.
3. Add the garlic and pepper to the browned butter (it will bubble and foam up a bit.) 
4. Drain the pasta (reserving 1½ cups cooking water) and transfer to pan with butter. 
5. Add the parmesan and some of the reserved cooking liquid.
6. Add spinach, in batches, and toss to combine. 
7. Toss in parsley, season with salt, and add additional cooking water as needed.

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What is browned butter?

Browned butter is melted butter that has been cooked over moderate heat to add a deep nutty and toasty flavor. Where does the flavor come from? The flavor comes from toasting the milk solids that are in the butter. Browned butter can be used in a variety of ways including sauces, dips, baked goods and more.

How do you make browned butter?

1. You can use salted or unsalted butter, so whatever you have on hand will work! One thing to keep in mind is to use room temperature butter, or at least butter that isn't too cold. If frozen butter is used, there's a risk of uneven browning (and it may splatter).
2. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Continuously swirl pan, or stir butter with a wooden spoon or spatula, to evenly melt and cook the butter. The butter will start to foam, but will eventually subside.
3. Continue cooking until small brown flecks start to form at the bottom of the pan and the butter starts to smell richly toasted and nutty, 5–8 minutes total.
4. Watch it closely! The butter can go from lightly browned to burnt in a matter of seconds. Once you see the milk solids start to change in color, keep a close eye. When the color is a deep golden brown, immediately remove from heat and pour into a glass bowl.

Make it a full meal, serve garlic butter noodles with:

• Chicken skewers
• Crispy pan-seared salmon
• Easy salmon cakes
• Baked chicken meatballs 
• Turkey meatballs
• Shrimp 
• Roasted broccoli 
• Seared or grilled sausage links

Mix it up! Try these variations/add-ins

• Add sautéed or roasted veggies (bell peppers, green peas, snap peas, and/or broccoli)
• Red pepper flakes
• Lemon zest
• Fresh herbs (basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary)

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If you like this recipe, you may also like…

• Pasta alla Puttanesca
• Trapanese Pesto Pasta
• Saucy Gochujang Noodles
• Miso Pesto Ramen
• Arugula Pesto Pasta 

Make sure to tag me @ZESTFULKITCHEN ON INSTAGRAM or comment below if you make these Browned Butter Garlic Noodles!

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