Description
Cowboy Butter Spaghetti is a bold, buttery, and flavorful twist on pasta. Tossed with a zesty cowboy butter sauce made with garlic, lemon, Dijon mustard, and fresh herbs, this dish is simple to make yet tastes gourmet. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you want to wow your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) spaghetti (or linguine, fettuccine, or gluten-free pasta)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (or sweet paprika)
- 1 lemon (zest and juice)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or dill, chives, or cilantro)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- Optional: grated parmesan, spinach, or toasted pine nuts for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Make the Cowboy Butter Sauce: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in Dijon mustard, paprika, lemon juice, zest, and red pepper flakes.
- Add Herbs: Stir in fresh parsley or your choice of herbs. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Toss Pasta: Add drained spaghetti to the skillet with cowboy butter. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water as needed until the sauce clings to the noodles.
- Serve and Garnish: Plate spaghetti, drizzle extra sauce on top, and garnish with parmesan, extra herbs, or lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
Use freshly grated garlic and lemon zest for the best flavor. Cowboy butter can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days. To add protein, top with shrimp, chicken, or salmon.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 50mg