This easy, fast and straightforward pasta dish is a well-recognized favourite amongst Italians. The sauce is definitely the identical as the actual Italian Alfredo sauce, however most Italians know this dish merely as Burro e Parmigiano: “butter and parmesan.” It’s extremely simple to make, however don’t let the simplicity idiot you! This fast pasta dish is filled with scrumptious, tacky taste. Plus, it’s simple on the digestive system which is why this dish is a go-to consolation meals for Italians after they’re sick.

Tremendous Easy & Scrumptious Tacky Butter Pasta | Italian “Burro e Parmigiano” Recipe
What Type of Pasta Works Greatest?
Nearly any dry semolina pasta will work with this butter and cheese sauce. Spaghetti, penne, or linguine are glorious selections. We advocate staying away from pastina, or different very tiny pasta shapes, as their small dimension will end in a thick gloop. For those who make this pasta with a really skinny, recent egg fettuccine you’ll have stumbled upon the actual and unique recipe for Fettuccine all’Alfredo!
Parmigiano vs. Parmesan
With quite simple dishes resembling burro e Parmigiano, utilizing top quality elements is vital. Subsequently, we have to stress the significance of avoiding parmesan cheese. Regardless of in style conception, “parmesan” isn’t simply an Anglicized time period for the Italian “Parmigiano-Reggiano.” The previous is under no circumstances an alternative to the latter. At finest, utilizing parmesan will end in a really disappointing taste. At worst, the preservatives within the so-called “cheese” will gum up and create terrible clumps in your pasta.
One notable substitute that can be utilized (though it’s often unusual to search out outdoors of Italy) is Grana Padano cheese. Grana is basically the identical sort of cheese, however made to much less rigorous and strict requirements. In a pasta like this the place the cheese actually is the flavour, we advocate going with Parmigiano when attainable.
The cheese may be pre-grated or you’ll be able to grate it your self, both approach works!
What’s the Trick?
Tremendous easy pasta dishes are generally the trickiest to grasp. Anybody who has tried to make cacio e pepe earlier than can perceive the frustration of attempting to get grated cheese to soften into a gorgeous, silky sauce. Observe our steps, although, and also you’ll simply grasp this dish!
The trick with this sauce is to first soften the butter in a pan, add the cooked pasta, and stir collectively vigorously with a ladleful or two of the pasta water. After the pasta is totally coated in butter, flip off the warmth and stir in grated Parmigiano cheese. The order of operations is vital: don’t add grated cheese right into a scorching pan of dry pasta!
Variations
Butter is a really versatile base for pasta sauces, so there are fairly just a few variations you’ll be able to strive! A few of the traditional offshoots are pasta with butter and anchovies; pasta with butter and sage; and pasta with butter, cheese and saffron. See under after the principle recipe, the place we’ll share directions for making them.
Watch the Pasta Grammar video the place we make this recipe right here:
PASTA BURRO E PARMIGIANO (BUTTER AND CHEESE PASTA) RECIPE
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Serves: 2 – you’ll be able to simply scale it up, simply plan on 3.5 oz (100g) of pasta and a couple of tbsp. (30g) of butter per serving, and use a big sufficient pot/skillet for the amount of pasta desired.
Prepare dinner Time: 15-20 minutes
For this recipe, you will want:
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Salt
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7 oz. (200g) dry pasta
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4 tbsp. (60g) unsalted butter
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Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to style
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Pasta pot
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Giant skillet
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Picket spoon
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Ladle
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Pasta fork, slotted spoon, or tongs for eradicating the pasta from the pot (relying on the form of your pasta)
Carry a big pot of water to boil and salt it generously. Add the pasta into the pot and set a timer for 3-4 minutes lower than the beneficial “al dente” cook dinner time.
In the meantime, in a big skillet, soften the butter over low warmth. Add a small ladleful of the boiling pasta water into the pan, simply to maintain the butter from burning because the pasta cooks.
When the pasta is prepared use tongs, a slotted spoon or a spaghetti fork to switch it into the pan and switch the warmth as much as medium. Ladle in simply sufficient pasta water to keep up some simmering liquid within the pan. Stir the pasta because it continues to cook dinner, till it’s al dente to your style—about 2-3 minutes.

If wanted, simply maintain including just a little bit extra water at a time in order that the pasta continues to cook dinner whilst you stir. Bear in mind: dry pasta doesn’t cook dinner! You don’t need a soup, however you undoubtedly need just a little little bit of liquid within the pan. As soon as the pasta is al dente to your liking, flip off the warmth.
Grate a beneficiant quantity of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese over the pasta. There is no such thing as a correct quantity right here, however the basic rule of thumb is that there’s hardly ever such a factor as an excessive amount of cheese. Stir the cheese in rapidly till it melts and coats the pasta.
Serve and high with some drizzled sauce from the pan, together with some further grated cheese (elective). Eat this pasta instantly, whereas the cheese continues to be scorching, melted and silky.
Buon appetito!
Variation #1 – PASTA BURRO E SALVIA (BUTTER AND SAGE PASTA) RECIPE

Pasta Burro a Salvia | Butter and Sage Pasta Sauce
This traditional sauce is a go-to selection when Italians need a very gentle, impartial sauce. When would they need such a sauce? When the pasta itself may be very flavorful.
We don’t advocate making this with “regular” pasta. Put it aside for stuffed pasta like ravioli, or pasta resembling gnocchi which has the added taste of potatoes.
To make this sauce, merely soften the butter in a skillet as you’d with burro e Parmigiano, however tear in just a few sage leaves and let these cook dinner with the butter whereas the pasta boils. Switch the cooked ravioli or gnocchi immediately into the pan, together with just a little pasta water. Gently toss/stir the pasta till it’s coated in sauce. Serve instantly, topped with some drizzled sauce and sage leaves from the pan and a few grated Parmigiano cheese (elective)
Variation #2 – PASTA BURRO E ALICI (BUTTER AND ANCHOVY PASTA) RECIPE

Pasta Burro e Alici | Butter and Anchovy Pasta Sauce
For individuals who need a kick of scrumptious, umami taste, do that butter sauce variation made with anchovies! We advocate utilizing a protracted pasta, resembling spaghetti or linguine. For every serving of pasta, you’ll need 2-3 anchovies preserved in oil and a couple of tbsp. (30g) of room temperature unsalted butter.
As a substitute of melting the butter in a pan, place it in a mixing bowl and mash it with a spoon or spatula. Cube the anchovies and blend these into the butter. Whereas the pasta is cooking, add just a little little bit of pasta water into the butter and blend right into a creamy sauce.
Prepare dinner the pasta till it’s al dente, and switch it immediately into the blending bowl. Stir all collectively till the sauce coats the pasta. If vital, you’ll be able to add just a little extra pasta water to skinny the sauce barely. Serve instantly, topped with some drizzled sauce from the bowl.
Variation #3 – PASTA BURRO E ZAFFERANO (BUTTER AND SAFFRON PASTA) RECIPE

Pasta Burro e Zafferano | Butter and Saffron Pasta Sauce
This decadent pasta has the added wow-factor of saffron! It really works nicely with spaghetti, but it surely’s additionally nice with tube pasta shapes, resembling rigatoni or penne. You’ll want a pinch of saffron and a couple of tbsp. (30g) room temperature unsalted butter per serving, together with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese to style.
Soak a pinch of saffron in just a few tablespoons of scorching water for 20-Half-hour. In a mixing bowl, combine the butter and some spoonfuls of grated Parmigiano. Pour within the soaked saffron, together with its water, and blend this in as nicely (it’s okay if the water doesn’t combine into the butter very nicely but). Switch the whole lot from the bowl right into a skillet.
From this level on, the pasta is cooked similar to burro e Parmigiano. Soften the butter/saffron combine and deal with it simply as you’d the “regular” butter within the earlier recipe. Stir in undercooked pasta, cook dinner within the pan with added pasta water till al dente, then flip off the warmth and blend in additional Parmigiano cheese to style. Serve instantly, topped with drizzled sauce from the pan and further cheese (elective).
Searching for extra tremendous easy pasta recipes? You should definitely try our go-to favourite, “Pasta alla Scarpariello,” and a few of our traditional “Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino” variations!