Easy Parmesan Buttered Noodles

Step 1

Bring water to a boil in a medium pot (we use 6 to 8 cups of water). Add 1/2 tablespoon of salt and the noodles.

Step 2

Cook, stirring once or twice, for 2 minutes less than the suggested cooking time on the package. The pasta will finish cooking when making the sauce. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water then drain pasta and return it to the pot.

Step 3

Add parmesan, butter, a 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water to the noodles. Set the pot over low heat. Use tongs to toss the noodles, butter, and cheese around the pan for one minute. Take the pan off of the heat then cover with a lid. Leave for one minute.

Step 4

Uncover the pot, toss the noodles a few more times in the sauce. If the pasta looks dry, add a splash more pasta water. If it seems wet, don’t worry, the pasta absorbs some the extra moisture as it cools. Stir in herbs, taste, and adjust with additional salt. Serve with more parmesan and fresh ground black pepper on top.