Jennifer Garner’s 5-Ingredient Pasta Has Been Saving My Weeknight Meals

You may remember Jennifer Garner making this easy pasta on the hit show, The Last Thing He Told Me, and if you’re anything like me, you immediately wondered how to make it and what it tasted like. Luckily for us, the actress shared the incredibly easy recipe on her “Pretend Cooking Show,” and we put it to the test in the Better Homes & Garden’s Test Kitchen. Here’s why it’s the weeknight pasta recipe you need to try.

How to Make Brown Butter and Sage Pasta

This truly is one of those “back pocket” recipes you should have on hand for any time you need a quick weeknight dinner. Here’s a quick rundown of how to make it.

1. Cook 1/2 lb. of linguine pasta according to package directions and drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter and add 12 fresh sage leaves. Cook until the butter begins to brown and the sage leaves become crispy. This will take about 7 minutes.
3. Stir in fresh lemon juice and the cooked pasta. Toss to coat and add in the reserved pasta water.
4. Finish by stirring in freshly grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Serve immediately.

What Does Jennifer’s Favorite Pasta Taste Like?

Our tasters compared this easy pasta recipe to “elevated buttered noodles.” The brown butter sauce adds a nutty richness that pairs well with the bright lemon juice. The crispy sage added an unexpected flavor that kept us coming back bite after bite. This is one of those dishes that tastes way more sophisticated than its ingredient list would suggest.

Tips for Making Jennifer’s Brown Butter and Sage Pasta

Keep these tips in mind when trying Jennifer Garner’s pasta recipe for yourself.

• When making the brown butter sauce, don’t walk away! It can burn quickly. We like to gently swirl the pan to keep the milk solids in the butter from becoming too dark and bitter.
• We’re able to find fresh sage year-round. Look for it near the cilantro or parsley in the produce section of your local grocery store.
• If you don’t want the texture of the crisp sage, remove the leaves before adding the pasta. The flavor will still be infused into the butter sauce.
• Can’t get enough lemon flavor? Try adding some lemon zest to the sauce as well.
• This is the place for freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and a lot of it.

The Verdict on Jennifer Garner’s Easy Pasta Recipe

This is the best pasta I’ve had this year. I honestly could not stop eating it. Each bite is the perfect combination of flavors with that unexpected pop of sage. I love the pairing of lemon and Parmesan, and they both shine here. This recipe has made my shortlist of weeknight go-tos.