Lazy Girl Three-Ingredient Pasta (Printer-Friendly)

Creamy pasta tossed with butter, Parmesan, and reserved pasta water for a simple flavorful dish.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 7 oz dried pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine)

→ Sauce

02 - 3.5 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 2.1 oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese

→ For Finishing

04 - Salt, to taste
05 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions.
02 - Reserve about 2/3 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
03 - Return the hot pasta to the pot off the heat. Add unsalted butter and toss until melted and pasta is well coated.
04 - Sprinkle in grated Parmesan and add 1/4 to 1/3 cup of reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously until a creamy sauce forms, adding more water to reach desired consistency.
05 - Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's ready in 17 minutes, which somehow feels like you cheated but also made something restaurant-quality.
  • You probably already have these three ingredients lurking in your fridge, so there's no excuse not to make it tonight.
  • The pasta water magic is real—once you see that creamy sauce come together with just butter and cheese, you'll feel like a kitchen wizard.
02 -
  • The pasta water is everything—the starch in it is what creates the sauce, not just the fat. Without it, you'll end up with greasy pasta instead of creamy perfection.
  • Don't let the pasta cool down. Every second counts once you start tossing with butter and cheese, or the heat won't emulsify the sauce properly.
  • Toss vigorously like you're having a conversation with the pasta. Gentle tossing leaves you with clumpy cheese instead of a cohesive cream.
03 -
  • Cook your pasta slightly before al dente if you're nervous about it getting mushy during the tossing phase—it'll continue cooking a bit in the residual heat.
  • Keep a spare cup of pasta water nearby just in case you need more. It's easier to add than to undo, and consistency matters.
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