Nutty brown butter is infused with garlic in this incredibly easy pasta side dish. Brown Butter Garlic Angel Hair Pasta is a quick and versatile side dish that you’ll use again and again.
The nutty flavor of brown butter adds a little flair to this simple, easy dish. Toss some grilled chicken (or fish) and veggies over it for a complete meal, or serve it as a simple side. It’s plain enough that the pickiest of child eaters will still eat it, and delicious enough that the grown ups will all be happy too. This has been one of my go-to sides for years. It works with practically anything and I can easily swing it into a whole meal which makes this one a keeper. You can totally do this without browning the butter, but that brown butter adds such a nice touch, it’s worth the extra few minutes of effort. The garlic cloves infuse the butter with garlic flavor which is just so dang tasty. I love the sediments left in the bottom of the pan after making brown butter. With the garlic I can’t help but clean off the bottom of the pan with a piece of crusty bread. I’m always telling myself “don’t fill up on bread!” but in this case, I can’t resist!
Need a visual of making the brown butter? Watch the video where I walk you through every step of this recipe.
Brown Butter Garlic Angel Hair Pasta
- 1 pound angel hair pasta
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves peeled and halved
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- optional minced chives or parsley, for garnish
- Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add in garlic cloves. Continue cooking over medium heat until butter foams, giving the pan a good occasional swirl. Once butter foams keep a close eye on it. The color will change from yellow to tan and then to brown. Once it reaches brown, remove it from the heat immediately and pour over the cooked pasta, discarding the garlic cloves.
- Stir in parmesan cheese until melted. Serve hot with some minced chives or parsley.