Buttered Noodles

When you’re at a loss for what to make for dinner, never fear, there’s always buttered noodles. This dish ranks high among classic comfort foods for a reason. It’s an across-the-board family favorite. Seriously, though, what’s not to love about the rich and savory combination of cheese, butter and tender noodles? And did we mention it takes only 20 minutes to make? Whether you use egg noodles or another pasta like fettuccine or linguine, this easy one-pot recipe is sure to satisfy.

Ingredients for Buttered Noodles

• Egg noodles: The soft texture of egg noodles make them a classic choice for a buttered noodles recipe. However, nearly any pasta will work in this dish. If you don’t have egg noodles on hand, you can use another pasta shape instead. A few easy swaps include linguine, pappardelle or fettuccine. Or, if you have a little extra time on your hands, you could always use homemade egg noodles.
• Mozzarella cheese: While packaged shredded cheese is super convenient, it doesn’t always have the best flavor and it doesn’t melt evenly. That’s why we recommend shredding the cheese yourself from a brick of firm mozzarella. The best mozzarella brands offer cheese that is mild and lightly salty.
• Butter: What’s a recipe for buttered noodles without the butter? It add richness and helps the herbs and cheese stick to the noodles.
• Parmesan cheese: For the best flavor, skip the packaged stuff and freshly grate the Parmesan cheese. Fresh cheese will also melt more smoothly so you don’t end up with clumps at the bottom of the bowl.
• Fresh parsley: Freshly minced parsley will add the most robust flavor to this buttered noodles recipe. In a pinch, you can substitute dried parsley. Follow the 3:1 fresh-to-dried-herb conversion ratio and use 2/3 teaspoon dried parsley.
• Seasoning: Salt, garlic powder and pepper round out the seasonings in this recipe for buttered noodles.

Directions

Step 1: Make the noodles

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Cook the noodles according to the package directions, then drain them.

Editor’s Tip: Save some of the pasta water. This starchy water is perfect for thinning out the sauce and ensuring it evenly coats the noodles.

Step 2: Toss the noodles with the remaining ingredients

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Transfer the cooked noodles to a serving bowl. Immediately add the remaining ingredients and toss to coat.

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Buttered Noodle Variations

• Pile on the Parm: Instead of adding mozzarella, you can use only freshly grated Parmesan instead. Or, try a different hard cheese like Pecorino, Romano or Gruyere in this buttered noodles recipe.
• Add a little spice: If you’re wondering how to make buttered noodles with a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, or a shake or two of hot sauce to the mix.
• Include some veggies: Amp up the nutrition by stirring in cooked peas, broccoli, mushrooms or roasted red peppers.

How to Store Buttered Noodles

Leftover buttered noodles should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The texture of buttered noodles will suffer in the freezer, so we do not recommend freezing leftovers.

How long do buttered noodles last?

Leftover buttered noodles can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days.

How do you reheat buttered noodles?

You can reheat buttered noodles in a covered microwave-safe dish in the microwave. If you have a little more time, you can reheat them in a pan over medium-low heat on the stovetop. Add a splash of water or cream to help thin out the sauce and prevent the noodles from sticking to the pan as they reheat.

Buttered Noodle Tips

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Should you salt the boiling water for this buttered noodles recipe?

Absolutely! No one wants bland noodles. Salting the water ensures that the noodles are seasoned inside and out. Not sure how much salt to use? Follow these tips to salt pasta water the right way.

What can you serve with buttered noodles?

These buttered noodles are perfectly delicious on their own as a vegetarian main entree. Serve the noodles alongside a simple green salad, roasted vegetables or one of our top-rated fruit salads. For a heartier meal, top this recipe for buttered noodles with pan-fried chicken, pork or a salmon recipe.