Kids Buttered Pasta Recipe

Boil water

Place 6 cups of water in a medium saucepan and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.

Salt the water

Once boiling, add 1 teaspoon salt to the water and stir briefly.

Add pasta and cook

Add 2 cups of the small pasta to the boiling salted water. Stir immediately to prevent sticking. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender but still slightly firm (al dente) — about 7 to 9 minutes depending on pasta shape. Refer to package for exact time and test a piece at 7 minutes.

Reserve pasta water and drain

Before draining, scoop out and reserve 2 tablespoons of the starchy pasta cooking water and set aside. Drain the pasta in a colander and return the drained pasta to the saucepan (off the heat).

Melt butter

With the saucepan containing hot pasta off the heat, add 3 tablespoons unsalted butter to the pasta. Swirl the pan or stir gently until the butter melts and coats the pasta.

Add milk for creaminess

Add 2 tablespoons whole milk to the pasta and stir to combine. If the pasta looks dry, add up to the reserved 2 tablespoons pasta water a little at a time to reach a glossy, buttery consistency that coats the noodles.

Add cheese and seasoning

Stir in 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan if using, and season with a pinch of black pepper. Taste and adjust: add a touch more butter or a splash more milk/pasta water if needed for texture.

Add optional mix-ins

If using optional add-ins, gently fold in 1 tablespoon thawed frozen peas or 1 tablespoon cooked diced chicken/ham now, so they warm through without breaking the pasta.

Garnish and serve

Sprinkle 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh parsley over the pasta if desired. Serve immediately while warm.