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Easy Garlic Butter Pasta Salad: Best Meal Prep Idea

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This Easy Garlic Butter Pasta Salad is a game-changer for meal prep, featuring al dente pasta tossed in a rich garlic butter sauce with cherry tomatoes and spinach. It stays fresh for up to 5 days and actually gets better as it sits, making it the perfect solution for busy weeks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 16 oz (450g) short pasta (rotini or fusilli recommended)
  • 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup (100g) fresh spinach, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) reserved pasta water
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional garnish)
  • Red pepper flakes (optional garnish)
  • Extra Parmesan for topping (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Use about 1 tablespoon of salt per 4 quarts of water.
  2. Add your pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. For meal prep, cook it 1 minute less than the package suggests.
  3. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
  4. Drain the pasta in a colander, but don’t rinse it.
  5. While the pasta cooks, start your garlic butter sauce. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the 4 tablespoons of butter. Once melted and bubbling, add the minced garlic. Stir constantly for 30-45 seconds until fragrant.
  6. Add the cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften and release their juices.
  7. Add the chopped spinach. Toss and stir for about 1 minute until it wilts.
  8. Add the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together to coat the pasta in the garlic butter sauce.
  9. Pour in 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss well and let it cook for another minute so the sauce thickens slightly.
  10. Remove from heat and sprinkle in the grated Parmesan. Toss until the cheese melts into the sauce. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  11. Let the pasta cool slightly before transferring to meal prep containers. Garnish with fresh parsley and red pepper flakes if desired.

Notes

The pasta will look saucy when hot, but the sauce thickens as it cools. If reheating and it seems dry, add a splash of water or milk. For best results, use fresh garlic and save the pasta water. This recipe is vegetarian and can be made gluten-free or dairy-free with substitutions.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter pasta salad, meal prep pasta, easy pasta salad, garlic butter pasta, pasta salad recipe, meal prep lunch

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