Buttered Noodles are perfectly al dente pasta noodles tossed in a simple butter sauce and plenty of parmesan cheese. It's noodle perfection in my opinion, and soon, you'll see just what I'm talking about!
This is 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!
Let's get started!
Jump to:
And, if you're in the mood for wonderfully comforting side dishes, you've come to the right place! You've got to try my Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Whole Roasted Cauliflower, and Baked Mac and Cheese!
Pull Up A Chair and Let's Chat!
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 roasted 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.
What You'll Need
This is a super simple, minimal ingredient recipe. You know what I'm gonna say. If there aren't may ingredients, you need to use the best you can find.
Use your favorite (or what the kids say) pasta.
Butter and parmesan make up the sauce. Use a good salted butter and real parmesan. If I hear about you using the stuff with the green lie, ima show up at your door and shake my finger at you. It's not real cheese. It's not real food. Don't do it.
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper are mandatory. Not iodized, kosher. And, absolutely, 100% grind the pepper yourself. It makes a huge difference especially in a simple recipe like this.
Tools Of The Trade
- Stock Pot - To cook the pasta in.
- Large Skillet - To make the sauce and finish the dish.
- Cheese Grater - For prepping the cheese.
- Tongs or Spider Strainer - To remove the pasta from the water.
- Spatula - To stir the sauce.
How To Do It
Because this is a super simple recipe, I'm gonna give you a quick debriefing here. But, the specifics will live in the recipe card below. What you need to do is:
- Cook the pasta, strain it, and save that water.
- Melt the butter and add the noodles.
- Toss with the cooking water, parm, salt, and pepper until creamy.
- Welcome the high-fives and pats to the back on a job well done.
All that's left to do is devour. And, left alone with it, that's exactly what I would do!
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of pasta is best for Buttered Noodles?
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.
Can I make this with GF pasta?
Absolutely! Use whatever GF pasta you have on hand or your favorite!
Substitutions and 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. The stuff with the green lid is not cheese. Don't do it.
- 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!
Tips and Tricks: From An Expert
- Salt the pasta cooking water well. That water needs to be SALTY.
- 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!
Storage And Reheating Instructions
- 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!
- I do not recommend freezing the leftovers. 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.
- 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.
Recipe
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 teaspoon 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 strained 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!
Notes
Nutrition
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!
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
Rufus for Real is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I may earn a commission, with no additional cost to you, if you purchase through those links.
Meghan Mask says
OMG I’ve never had buttered noodles anywhere close to this before and made them for my family last week… Best thing ever!!! Mask house approved
Rufus says
You have no idea how happy this makes me. I am so so happy you guys loved them! Have a wonderful day!