Name: Traditional Alfredo-Style Buttered Noodles
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 2 bowls
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 0.5 lb pasta; 5 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1.25 cups reserved pasta water; 1.5 cups Parmesan cheese; Salt; Black pepper

Traditional Alfredo-Style Buttered Noodles

Traditional Alfredo-Style Buttered Noodles cover

From the Cook

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Traditional Alfredo-Style Buttered Noodles

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Traditional Alfredo-Style Buttered Noodles

½ lb pastae.g., spaghetti, fettuccine, or linguine

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 ¼ cups reserved pasta waterdivided

1 ½ cups Parmesan cheesefreshly grated

Saltto taste

Black pepperto taste

Instructions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 1/4 cups pasta water, then drain pasta.

In a large pan over medium heat, melt butter. Add cooked pasta and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water.

Toss pasta and butter until well combined and emulsified.

Add 1 cup of grated Parmesan and stir vigorously to melt and incorporate, forming a creamy sauce.

Add another 1/2 cup Parmesan and a splash more pasta water as needed, mixing until the sauce is glossy and smooth.

Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan if desired.

Bite Tutorial

Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Reserve Pasta Water Before Draining 💧
Save at least 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining—this is essential for emulsifying the butter and cheese into a silky sauce rather than a clumpy mixture.
Freshly Grate Parmesan Just Before Use 🧀
Block Parmesan grated fresh melts smoothly into the sauce, while pre-grated cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent proper emulsification and create a grainy texture.
Finish Off Heat for Perfect Emulsion 🔥
Remove the pan from heat before adding cheese and butter, then stir continuously while adding pasta water gradually—this prevents the cheese from becoming greasy or broken.
Use Room Temperature Butter 🧈
Cut butter into small cubes and let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes so it incorporates smoothly into the warm pasta without creating separated pools of oil.
Season the Pasta Water Generously 🧂
Salt your cooking water as much as the sea—this seasons the pasta itself and the starchy water, ensuring perfectly seasoned sauce without needing extra salt at the end.