Spaghetti with Garlic Bread Recipe
This Spaghetti Garlic Bread recipe combines perfectly cooked spaghetti tossed in a fragrant garlic and olive oil sauce with crispy, buttery homemade garlic bread. The spaghetti is flavored with fresh parsley, Parmesan, and optional red pepper flakes, while the garlic bread features a rich blend of butter, garlic, Parmesan, and herbs, baked until golden and bubbly. It’s a comforting and satisfying Italian-inspired meal ideal for sharing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
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, for extra garlic flavor)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil the pasta: In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of salt to season the water.
- Cook the spaghetti: Add the spaghetti to the boiling water. Stir immediately to prevent sticking. Cook according to package directions, about 8-10 minutes, or until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining.
- Drain the pasta: Drain the spaghetti in a colander and set aside.
- Sauté garlic: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Toss spaghetti in garlic oil: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with garlic oil. Toss to coat evenly. Pour in about 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water and toss again. If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water one tablespoon at a time until you reach a creamy, desired consistency.
- Add parsley and cheese: Stir in chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Toss until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes creamy.
- Prepare garlic butter: In a medium bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder (if using). Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly until well blended.
- Slice bread: Cut the Italian bread lengthwise into two long halves.
- Spread garlic butter: Generously spread the garlic butter mixture over the cut sides of both bread halves ensuring even coverage.
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the garlic bread.
- Bake the garlic bread: Place the bread halves on a baking sheet, cut-side up. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the bread is golden brown and the garlic butter is melted and bubbly.
- Broil for crispiness: For extra crispy garlic bread, broil the bread for the last 1-2 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Cool and slice bread: Remove garlic bread from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before slicing into individual pieces.
- Plate the spaghetti: Divide the garlic oil spaghetti among individual plates.
- Garnish: Sprinkle additional grated Parmesan cheese and a pinch of fresh parsley over the spaghetti if desired.
- Serve: Serve the spaghetti immediately alongside the warm, garlicky bread for a delicious, comforting meal.
Notes
- You can substitute Italian bread with French baguette if needed.
- Adjust red pepper flakes amount or omit for less heat.
- Reserve pasta water is key to achieving a silky sauce consistency.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with olive oil and omit Parmesan cheese.
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor impact in both pasta and bread.
Keywords: spaghetti garlic bread, garlic butter bread, Italian garlic bread, spaghetti recipe, easy garlic pasta, homemade garlic bread
