Garlic Parmesan Noodles Recipe

Quick & Zesty Garlic Parmesan Noodles Recipe Everyone Will Love

Garlic parmesan noodles craft ordinary pasta into a luxurious comfort food experience that tantalizes taste buds with rich, bold flavors.

Creamy cheese and aromatic garlic create a harmonious blend that elevates simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Pasta lovers understand the magical power of simple yet sophisticated recipes that require minimal preparation.

Soft, silky strands coated in a velvety sauce promise a delightful culinary journey for anyone craving satisfying warmth.

Bold seasonings dance across each delectable bite, delivering incredible depth and complexity to a classic dish.

Home cooks appreciate straightforward techniques that produce restaurant-quality results without complicated steps or exotic ingredients.

The magic happens when basic pantry staples merge into something surprisingly magnificent and deeply comforting.

Why Garlic Parmesan Noodles Are a Weeknight Winner

  • Elevate Weeknight Dining: Transform simple noodles into a restaurant-quality meal with minimal effort and maximum flavor in just 20 minutes.
  • Umami Explosion: Blend of oyster sauce, fish sauce, and soy sauce creates a deeply savory profile that makes every bite incredibly satisfying and complex.
  • Silky Smooth Texture: Butter and reserved cooking water create a luxurious, clingy sauce that perfectly coats each noodle, ensuring maximum sauce-to-pasta coverage.
  • Quick Gourmet Hack: Combining basic ingredients like garlic, Parmesan, and pantry sauces turns ordinary noodles into a sophisticated dish that looks and tastes impressive.

Ingredients Needed for Garlic Parmesan Noodles

Main Ingredients:

Noodles: – Noodles: Pasta base that provides the main structure and texture for the dish, choose a medium-width noodle like linguine or spaghetti for best results.

Parmesan Cheese: – Parmesan Cheese: Sharp, salty cheese that adds rich flavor and creamy texture to the final dish, select a freshly grated high-quality cheese for best taste.

Garlic: – Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that provides deep, pungent flavor to the sauce, choose fresh firm cloves without any green sprouts.

Sauce Ingredients:

Oyster Sauce: – Oyster Sauce: Provides rich umami and slightly sweet flavor, select a dark and thick Asian-style sauce.

Fish Sauce: – Fish Sauce: Adds depth and saltiness to the overall dish, choose a clear, amber-colored sauce from Southeast Asian brands.

Soy Sauce: – Soy Sauce: Contributes additional saltiness and complexity, pick a traditional brewed version for best results.

Finishing Ingredients:

Butter: – Butter: Creates a smooth, rich base for the sauce, use unsalted butter for better flavor control.

Scallions: – Scallions: Fresh green onions that provide a light, crisp garnish with mild onion flavor, choose bright green and firm stalks.

How to Make Garlic Parmesan Noodles Silky and Bold

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients

  • Mince 8 garlic cloves
  • Finely grate Parmesan cheese
  • Thinly slice 3 scallions
  • Gather sauce ingredients

Step 2: Boil Water

Fill a large pot with water and add a generous amount of salt. Bring to a rolling boil.

Step 3: Create Sauce Mixture

Combine in a small bowl:
  • Oyster sauce
  • Fish sauce
  • Soy sauce

Step 4: Cook Noodles

Add of noodles to boiling water. Cook according to package instructions until perfectly tender.

Step 5: Prepare Garlic Butter

Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Melt butter and add minced garlic. Cook until fragrant and golden.

Step 6: Combine Sauce

Remove pan from heat. Stir in prepared sauce mixture until well blended.

Step 7: Finish Noodles

Drain noodles, keeping of cooking water. Transfer noodles to the frying pan. Add reserved cooking water as needed and cook until sauce thickens and coats noodles.

Step 8: Final Touch

Remove from heat. Sprinkle grated Parmesan and sliced scallions over the noodles. Toss gently to combine.

Step 9: Serve

Plate the noodles and garnish with remaining scallions. Serve hot and enjoy the rich, garlicky flavor.

Tips for Garlic Parmesan Noodles with Flavor Punch

  • Select Fresh Garlic: Choose plump, firm garlic cloves with tight, unbroken skin for maximum flavor and aroma.
  • Control Butter Heat: Melt butter gently to prevent burning, watching for a light golden color and fragrant garlic smell.
  • Reserve Pasta Water: Keep cooking water to help create a silky, clingy sauce that perfectly coats each noodle.
  • Grate Cheese Freshly: Use a microplane or fine grater to create delicate Parmesan shreds that melt smoothly into the sauce.
  • Balance Sauce Consistency: Add reserved pasta water gradually to achieve a glossy, not too thick or thin sauce that clings beautifully to noodles.

Storing Garlic Parmesan Noodles the Right Way

  • Refrigeration: Store leftover noodles in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Seal tightly and keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Cold storage helps maintain food safety and prevents bacterial growth.
  • Reheating: Warm noodles gently in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a splash of reserved cooking water or broth to restore moisture and prevent sticking. Stir frequently until heated evenly, about 3-4 minutes. Avoid microwaving to prevent rubbery texture.
  • Quick Tip: If noodles seem dry, drizzle a little olive oil or butter while reheating to restore their creamy consistency and enhance flavor. Sprinkle extra Parmesan cheese on top for a fresh, tasty touch.

Pairing Choices for Garlic Parmesan Noodles

  • Pair with Crisp White Wine: Sauvignon blanc cuts through the richness of garlic and butter, creating a refreshing contrast that elevates the noodle's creamy texture.
  • Complement with Light Salad: Arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette adds bright, peppery notes that balance the heavy, savory pasta dish and provide a fresh counterpoint.
  • Match with Grilled Protein: Succulent chicken breast or seared shrimp introduce protein and create a complete meal, harmonizing with the garlicky parmesan flavors while adding nutritional depth.
  • Enhance with Chilled Beer: A light pilsner or wheat beer helps cleanse the palate between bites, cutting through the buttery sauce and providing a cool, crisp accompaniment.

Garlic Parmesan Noodle Variants to Try

  • Spicy Sesame Kick: Add 1-2 tablespoons of chili oil and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds for extra heat and nutty flavor.
  • Mediterranean Herb Blend: Replace scallions with fresh chopped basil and parsley, incorporate crumbled feta cheese instead of Parmesan for a Mediterranean profile.
  • Creamy Mushroom Version: Sauté sliced cremini or shiitake mushrooms with garlic before adding sauce, creating a rich umami-packed pasta experience.
  • Protein Power Option: Incorporate grilled chicken strips or sautéed shrimp directly into the noodles for a complete protein-rich meal.
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Garlic Parmesan Noodles Recipe

Garlic Parmesan Noodles Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 12 reviews

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Garlic Parmesan Noodles bring comfort and classic Italian flavors to your dinner table with minimal effort. Creamy cheese and aromatic garlic meld together, creating a simple yet irresistible pasta dish perfect for weeknight meals you’ll want to savor.


Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

  • 1 pound dried spaghetti, dried thin Chinese wheat noodles, or dried Japanese ramen noodles
  • 4 tablespoons (½ stick, 57 grams) unsalted butter
  • 1 ounce (28 grams) Parmesan cheese (½ cup firmly packed freshly grated or ⅓ cup store-bought grated)

Flavor Enhancers:

  • 8 cloves garlic
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

Garnish and Seasoning:

  • Salt
  • 3 medium scallions (optional)

Instructions

  1. Fill a large pot with water and generously season with salt, bringing it to a rolling boil over high heat.
  2. Carefully peel and finely mince 8 garlic cloves, ensuring uniform tiny pieces for even flavor distribution.
  3. Using a microplane or fine grater, grate of Parmesan cheese into delicate, fluffy shreds.
  4. Trim the roots and slice 3 scallions into thin, diagonal cuts, separating green and white portions for layered garnish.
  5. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together oyster sauce, fish sauce, and soy sauce to create a harmonious umami-rich liquid seasoning.
  6. Submerge of noodles into the boiling water, following package instructions to achieve perfect al dente texture.
  7. While noodles cook, melt butter in a spacious frying pan over medium heat, creating a golden, bubbling surface.
  8. Add minced garlic to the melted butter, stirring continuously until aromatic and lightly golden, releasing its intense flavor.
  9. Remove pan from heat and incorporate the prepared sauce mixture, creating a glossy, fragrant base.
  10. Carefully drain the cooked noodles, reserving of starchy cooking water for sauce consistency.
  11. Transfer noodles directly into the frying pan, gently tossing to coat with sauce and adding reserved cooking water as needed.
  12. Continue cooking until sauce thickens and clings beautifully to each noodle strand.
  13. Remove from heat and sprinkle grated Parmesan and white scallion portions, allowing residual warmth to melt cheese slightly.
  14. Garnish with remaining green scallion slices for a fresh, vibrant finish.
  15. Serve immediately while hot and steaming, presenting a luxurious, aromatic pasta dish.

Notes

  • Sauce Secrets: The magical blend of oyster, fish, and soy sauces creates a deep, umami-rich flavor profile that elevates simple noodles to a gourmet experience.
  • Garlic Power: Freshly minced garlic transforms from sharp to mellow when sautéed in butter, releasing an irresistible aroma that infuses the entire dish.
  • Pasta Water Magic: Reserved cooking water is the secret weapon for creating a silky, clingy sauce that perfectly coats every strand of noodle.
  • Cheese Magic: Freshly grated Parmesan adds a salty, nutty finish that brings depth and complexity to the entire dish.
  • Quick Pro Tip: Use high heat and work quickly when cooking garlic to prevent burning and ensure a rich, mellow flavor.
  • Serving Suggestion: Garnish with extra scallions for a fresh, bright crunch that cuts through the richness of the buttery sauce.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
  • Method: Boiling, Frying
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 425 kcal
  • Sugar: 2 g
  • Sodium: 580 mg
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 11 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 54 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 13 g
  • Cholesterol: 45 mg
Lucas Bennett

Lucas Bennett

Founder & Recipe Creator

Expertise

Simple Everyday Recipes, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Creative Meal Planning, Recipe Testing and Improvement

Education

Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wisconsin

  • Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Practical culinary training, fundamental cooking techniques, meal planning, and using fresh, local ingredients.

Lake Superior College, Duluth, Minnesota

  • Program: Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems
  • Focus: Cooking methods that promote sustainability, farm-to-table practices, and eco-friendly meal creation.

Lucas Bennett’s cooking journey started in his parents’ kitchen, where he learned to prepare tasty, no-fuss meals from scratch. His culinary passion led him to Fox Valley Technical College, where he gained practical cooking skills.
He then expanded his focus on sustainability at Lake Superior College. Today, Lucas shares easy, approachable recipes designed to make cooking enjoyable and stress-free for everyone.

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