Lazy Girl Three-Ingredient Pasta (Print Version)

A quick creamy pasta featuring butter, Parmesan, and reserved cooking water for smooth texture.

# Components:

→ Pasta

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

→ Sauce

02 - 3.5 tbsp unsalted butter
03 - 2 oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese

→ For Finishing

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

# Preparation Steps:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in 17 minutes from pantry to plate, perfect for when you're hungry now.
  • The creamy sauce tastes indulgent but costs less than most takeout options.
  • No cream or heavy ingredients needed—just the pasta water does the real work.
02 -
  • The pasta must be hot and the pot off the heat when you add butter and cheese, or you'll end up with a broken, oily mess instead of a creamy sauce.
  • Pasta water is the secret—the starch in it is what actually emulsifies with the fat and makes this work, so don't skip saving it or use regular water as a substitute.
03 -
  • Reserve your pasta water before draining—the second you dump it down the sink is the second you'll wish you hadn't.
  • If your sauce breaks or looks too thick, don't panic; a splash more pasta water will bring it back together every single time.
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