Not every recipe needs to be complex or have several ingredients to taste good. In fact, some of the simplest ones can be the best. How about a simple recipe that is also comforting, satisfying…and cheap? I think that’s a recipe for success!
Simple Parmesan Buttered Pasta is just as the name says. It seems easy enough that it shouldn’t need its own recipe post on it. However, we are not born knowing how to cook simply, let alone how to cook at all. So here I am, happy to share this crazy easy recipe with you.
Oh, and a fun fact to this recipe? I learned it from my husband!
Well, he first introduced me to this dish when we were dating. He wasn’t (and still isn’t) a cook, but this meal came merely from being single, male, living alone, and a poor university student. Needless to say, he cooked this pasta dish quite often! And obviously, this goes to show that inspiration can come from anywhere!
It became a meal that we cooked quite often even after we were married. We didn’t have a lot of money to eat out and I didn’t really know how to cook (canned chili and grocery store French bread was my specialty!). That being said, even after we could afford to eat out or spend more on groceries (and I learned how to cook), I still fell back on making this Parmesan buttered pasta once in a while. It was great for those late work nights when we just wanted a hot, simple, quick meal.
When my husband first made me this pasta dish, he used grated fresh cheddar over the pasta. That was pretty good, but over time, the dish evolved and we started using Parmesan instead. Parmesan has that nice nutty flavor and doesn’t melt as quickly as cheddar. As a further adaptation to the recipe, sometimes I like to top my pasta with roasted vegetables before adding the Parmesan. Then I’m getting my greens and veggies, too!
All this recipe entails is boiling up your pasta of choice in salted water (gluten-free pasta also works for this recipe!). Cook the pasta to al dente and drain the water, but not completely. And most importantly, don’t rinse the pasta!
Plate (or bowl) up your pasta and top with freshly grated Parmesan and dinner is served! How easy is that?? Within 15-20 minutes, you can have a bowl of comfort food ready to devour. What’s not to like about that? Try making this Simple Parmesan Buttered Pasta in your kitchen and let me know how it goes in the comments below!
~ Lisa.
Simple Parmesan Buttered Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb Dry spaghetti or pasta shape of your choice, regular or gluten-free
- 1 tsp salt
- 2-3 tbs Butter
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Bring pot of water to a boil. Add salt.
- Add dry pasta and cook until al dente.
- Drain pasta, reserving some of the liquid. DO NOT RINSE.
- Pour pasta back into pot and add butter. Stir well.
- Serve with freshly grated Parmesan.
Notes
In Your Kitchen:
Make this gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free pasta.Top it with some grilled chicken or shrimp for an extra dose of protein.
Top it with roasted vegetables.
Try it the way my husband had originated it by using cheddar and see if you like it that way!
If you make this dish, share your photo on Facebook or Instagram and tag me @dayinthekitchen!
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- Savory Ginger Garlic Cococnut Rice
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