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Butter & Parmesan Pasta

This is the pasta you make when dinner needs to exist, but your brain is already done for the day. It’s buttery, salty, cheesy, and somehow feels like comfort food even though it took almost no effort.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz pasta spaghetti, rotini, or whatever you’ve got
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese fresh if possible, but whatever you have works
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • Salt for pasta water + taste
  • Optional: garlic powder black pepper, red pepper flakes, parsley

Method
 

  1. Boil pasta in well-salted water until al dente. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of pasta water.
  2. Drain pasta and return it to the pot (heat OFF).
  3. Add butter and stir until fully melted and coating the noodles.
  4. Sprinkle in Parmesan gradually, stirring as you go.
  5. Add a splash of reserved pasta water to make it silky and glossy.
  6. Season with salt, pepper, and any optional add-ins.