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

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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.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Water-Cheese Emulsion Magic 🧀
Always reserve 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining - this liquid gold is crucial for creating a silky, clingy sauce that perfectly binds with the Parmesan cheese.
Cheese Grating Technique 🧀
Freshly grate Parmesan using a microplane or fine grater to ensure ultra-fine, melt-able cheese that creates a smoother, more luxurious sauce than pre-grated alternatives.
Butter Mounting Mastery 🧈
Add cold butter in small cubes and swirl/stir constantly to create a perfect emulsion, preventing separation and ensuring a glossy, restaurant-quality sauce.
Pasta Water Temperature Trick 💦
Add reserved pasta water that's still steaming hot - the residual heat helps melt the cheese and butter while preventing the sauce from becoming greasy or breaking.
Seasoning Layer Technique 🌶️
Season each component separately - salt the pasta water, season the cheese, and finish with fresh cracked black pepper - to build complex, balanced flavor throughout the dish.