Lazy Girl Three-Ingredient Pasta (Printable)

Quick creamy pasta made with butter, Parmesan, and pasta water for a smooth finish. Easy comfort food.

# Ingredient list:

→ 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)

# How to Make It:

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 2/3 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta using a colander.
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 grated Parmesan and 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 Suggestions:

01 -
  • It actually tastes indulgent even though you're not standing over the stove stressed about timing.
  • Comes together in the time it takes pasta to cook—no sauce simmering separately while you wait.
  • The ingredient list is so short you can make it on a whim, without planning ahead.
02 -
  • The pasta water is not optional—it contains starch that emulsifies the butter and cheese into a sauce instead of just coating the noodles with separate ingredients.
  • Stop tossing once the sauce looks creamy, or you'll overwork it and end up with a clumpy mess (I learned this by doing it wrong the first three times).
03 -
  • Grate your cheese fresh every single time—this is not where you compromise, because pre-grated cheese will never emulsify properly.
  • If your sauce breaks and looks grainy instead of creamy, add a tiny splash of cold water and toss gently to bring it back together.
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