Buttered Noodles are one of my family’s most requested dishes and arguably part of my kids’ love language.. They’re simple, delicious, and are a perfectly easy side dish that goes with just about anything. I’ve got a simple recipe and tips and tricks to show you how to make the very best.
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A picture of Buttered Noodles can be found in the dictionary right next to the words “comfort food”. There is just something about the pure simplicity of this dish that makes everyone feel better. It’s delicious, buttery, and so far from fussy that you can’t help but love it.
My kids ask for this dish at least 3 times a week. And, I don’t mind. It’s simple to make, is a perfect side to almost anything, and if the kids will eat it, it’s a win-win! Parents, you know what I’m talking about!
Serve this recipe alongside your weekly roast chicken. I keep it in the fridge and heat it up after school for my girls. Top it with some fresh herbs and bring it to your next get-together with friends when you need a fun side. People will thank you. I promise.
buttered noodles ingredients
- Pasta of Choice
- Butter
- Parmesan Cheese
- Kosher Salt
- Fresh Ground Pepper
recipe tools
- Stock Pot
- Large Skillet
- Cheese Grater
- Tongs or Spider Strainer
- Spatula
how to make buttered noodles
Because this is super a simple recipe, we do need to go over a few things to make sure you end up with the best Buttered Noodles you’ve ever had.
the pasta
To begin, grab that stockpot, fill it with water, and heavily salt it. The water needs to be SALTY. Maybe not quite like the ocean, but enough to know you have some good salinity. This is the only way to get flavor into the noodle itself.
Bring the salted water to a boil. While that happens, cube the butter and grate the parmesan. Don’t even consider using pre-shredded stuff here.
Once the water comes to a boil, carefully add your pasta of choice and cook it according to the package instructions. Do not cook it past al dente either. No one need a mushy noodle. Pasta needs to have good bite and chew. Resist the urge to over cook it.
the sauce
When the pasta is almost finished cooking, add the butter to a large skillet on low heat. Let that melt. Have the parmesan cheese, kosher salt, and fresh ground pepper at the ready and close by.
Add the pasta to the large skillet. If using a long pasta, use tongs. If you’re using a smaller pasta, I suggest a spider strainer. You want a little bit of that pasta water in your sauce. And, do not get rid of the pasta water just yet!
Vigorously stir the pasta in with the butter. Add a little more pasta water along with the grated parmesan cheese and fresh ground pepper. Keep stirring. If you think you need a little more water, add it. This will only help the sauce to become more silky.
Taste for salt and if you think it needs a little more, add some.
All that’s left to do is devour. And, left alone with it, that’s exactly what I would do!
recipe frequently asked questions
Whatever pasta you love! I use what my children request. Sometimes it’s an egg noodle, today it’s spaghetti. It all works great.
TIP FOR PARENTS: Make sure to ask your kids what kind of noodle situation they want. If you don’t and you use spaghetti, they’ll claim they don’t like spaghetti noodles anymore and they wouldn’t dream of eating it. This is your life now.
Absolutely! Use whatever GF pasta you have on hand or your favorite!
To heat up leftovers, simply warm the noodles through in a skillet on low heat. That’s my favorite way. It’s prevents that butter sauce from separating and becoming oily.
buttered noodle variations
- Noodles – Use whatever noodle you have on hand or the ones your children request. You cannot go wrong here. Just be mindful that the cooking times will differ based on the size of the noodle.
- Cheese – I love tossing in grated parmesan cheese for our Buttered Noodles. The flavor is just amazing. Make sure you’re using real parm.
- Herbs – Have some fresh herbs you love? Add those. This recipe is very basic and can take on lots of different flavors from herbs.
- Lemon – A squeeze of lemon and some of the zest would be amazing.
- Boursin – Stir in a little of this at the end. You can thank me later.
- Breadcrumbs – Sometimes I like a little crunch with a recipe like this. Toast up some panko breadcrumbs in butter and top the noodles. It’s sooooo good!
buttered noodle tips and tricks
- Salt the pasta cooking water well.
- Reheat in a large skillet on low heat.
- Use a high quality butter. There are minimal ingredients in the recipe and it does make a difference. Use the good stuff.
- Kosher Salt – Use it and plenty of it. Salt enhances the flavor of food and is needed to bring out the true flavor of the butter.
- Pepper – Freshly ground because it’s delicious. The stuff in the can that is already ground up tastes nothing like the fresh stuff. Do it yourself.
- Parmesan Cheese – Invest in the real stuff. It lasts for a long time and is well worth it.
- Al Dente – Do not overcook your noodles for this dish…or for any dish for that matter. Cook until just al dente so the pasta has good bite.
- Don’t rinse the pasta after cooking. There are very few instances where one should rinse pasta and this ain’t it.
- Save the pasta water. You’ll need it for the sauce!
recipe frequently asked questions
Buttered Noodles, should you have leftovers, will stay good in the fridge for up to 3 days. I highly doubt they will last that long!
No. In most cases, pasta does not freeze and then reheat well. It has a tendency to become mushy and fall apart. Make and enjoy this recipe fresh.
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Buttered Noodles Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ lb pasta of choice I used spaghetti
- ¼ cup butter, cubed
- ¼ cup pasta water
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ tsp fresh ground pepper
- kosher salt, to taste
Instructions
The Pasta
- To begin, grab that stockpot, fill it with water, and heavily salt it. The water needs to be SALTY. Maybe not quite like the ocean, but enough to know you have some good salinity in that water. This is the only way to get flavor into the noodle itself.
- Bring the salted water to a boil.
- Once the water comes to a boil, carefully add your pasta of choice and cook it according to the package instructions.
The Sauce
- When the pasta is almost finished cooking, add the butter to a large skillet on low heat. Let that melt. Have the parmesan cheese, kosher salt, and fresh ground pepper at the ready and close by.
- Add the pasta to the large skillet.
- Vigorously stir the pasta in with the butter. Add the pasta water along with the grated parmesan cheese and fresh ground pepper. Keep stirring. If you think you need a little more water, add it. This will only help the sauce to become more silky and it will absorb into the noodles.
- Taste for salt and if you think it needs a little more, add some.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Buttered Noodles recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or star rating below. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. It makes my heart so happy! And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
–Rufus
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If you guys make my Buttered Noodles, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Rufus for Real is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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