Pasta al Burro e Aglio
The 15-minute dinner: noodles, butter, garlic, lemon — that's it.
Ingredients
- 200 g Pasta
- 60 g Butter
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 Lemon
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Black pepper
- ¼ tsp Red pepper flakes (optional)
Method
- Bring a pot of salted water to the boil.
- Mince the garlic and zest the lemon.
- Cook pasta one minute shy of al dente (firm to the bite).
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a wide pan over medium-low. Add garlic and cook gently for 2 minutes, no browning.
- Reserve a mugful of pasta water, then drain.
- Toss the pasta with butter, lemon zest, a squeeze of juice, black pepper, and chili flakes if using, loosening with pasta water until glossy.
- Serve at once.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Pasta al Burro e Aglio
Pasta al burro e aglio is Italian cooking distilled to its calmest form: pasta, butter, garlic, and lemon, and little else. It sits in the same minimalist family as pasta al burro and aglio e olio, dishes that prove a handful of good ingredients handled with care beat a long list handled carelessly. The butter is melted gently with garlic over low heat so the garlic softens and sweetens without browning, building a mellow, glossy base rather than a sharp one.
The lemon is what lifts this version out of plain buttered noodles: zest for perfume and a squeeze of juice for acidity, both cutting the richness so the dish stays light on the palate. Black pepper and an optional pinch of chili flakes add a gentle bite. It's a fifteen-minute dinner that leans on technique over shopping, the sort of thing to make late on a weeknight or as a quiet first course. Toss it hot and eat it fast, while the butter still coats every strand.
Pasta al Burro e Aglio: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Pasta al Burro e Aglio?
A serving has about 603 calories — 13.9g protein, 78.6g carbs, 26g fat, 3.9g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Pasta al Burro e Aglio gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Pasta. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Is Pasta al Burro e Aglio dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Butter. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How long does Pasta al Burro e Aglio take to make?
About 21 minutes start to finish, but only around 8 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Pasta al Burro e Aglio?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out red pepper flakes — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Pasta al Burro e Aglio make?
This recipe makes 2 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.