Lazy Girl Three Ingredient Pasta

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

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

→ Sauce

02 - 3.5 tablespoons unsalted butter

03 - 2 oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese

→ For Finishing

04 - Salt, to taste

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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.

02 - Reserve about 2/3 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.

03 - Return the hot pasta to the pot off the heat. Add the butter and toss until melted and the pasta is evenly coated.

04 - Sprinkle in the Parmesan cheese and gradually add 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously until a creamy sauce forms, adding more water as needed to reach desired consistency.

05 - Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately, optionally topped with extra Parmesan.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

Ready in under 20 minutes, which means dinner on nights when takeout feels like the only option.
Three ingredients means less guilt about what's actually in your food and more time enjoying it.
The pasta water does something nearly magical, turning butter and cheese into sauce without cream or complicated technique.

02 -

The cheese must be freshly grated and added off the heat, or it will seize into clumps instead of melting into silk—this mistake taught me patience.
Pasta water is non-negotiable because its starch acts as an emulsifier, creating a sauce that clings to the noodles instead of pooling at the bottom of the bowl.

03 -