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Delicious Cowboy Butter Pasta topped with fresh herbs and spices

Cowboy Butter Pasta

A delicious and easy pasta dish combining butter, garlic, and Italian herbs, perfect for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Sauce
  • 12 ounces dry spaghetti or thin spaghetti, broken in half
  • 1 cup salted butter, melted Equivalent to 2 sticks
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely minced Or 1 tablespoon jarred minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons dried Italian seasoning or parsley blend
  • 2.5 cups hot water
  • 1 teaspoon salt Optional, to taste
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper Optional, to taste
  • 0.5 to 1 cup grated Parmesan or shredded mozzarella cheese Optional
  • 0.25 to 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes Optional
  • Cooked chicken sausage or ground beef Optional protein addition
  • Fresh parsley or chives Optional for garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
  2. Spread the broken dry spaghetti evenly across the dish.
  3. Whisk together the melted butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
  4. Slowly whisk in the hot water.
  5. Pour the mixture evenly over the spaghetti and gently press the noodles down so most are submerged.
  6. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
Final Cooking
  1. Carefully remove the foil and gently toss the noodles to separate and evenly coat them.
  2. Return to the oven uncovered and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, tossing once if needed, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
  3. Let the pasta rest for 3 to 5 minutes. Toss once more and serve warm.

Notes

Make sure to press down the pasta to cook evenly in the sauce. Feel free to adjust the spices to suit your taste. For a creamier texture, add some heavy cream along with the butter.