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This simple and delicious single serving recipe for buttered noodles is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. It’s also a great option for those who are looking for a comforting and satisfying dish that doesn’t require a lot of time or effort to prepare.
If you’re cooking for one, you’ll love the simple combination of butter, garlic, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. A delightful one-pot meal ready in minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Buttered Noodles Recipe
- Simplicity: No intricate steps or complex ingredients, making it perfect for quick meals or a late-night snack.
- Versatility: This recipe can be customized to your liking, suiting varied palates and dietary restrictions.
- Minimal Ingredients: You only need four basic ingredients: pasta (or spaghetti), garlic, butter, and parmesan cheese.
- Recipe Doubles Well: This single serving of buttered noodles will make an excellent main dish but can also be a wonderful side dish to serve along with meatloaf or chicken. If you’d like to make extra, just double the ingredient amounts.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.
- Pasta: This buttered noodles recipe calls for using about 2 ounces of dry pasta. Although I’m using spaghetti, you can use any type of pasta you have. If you don’t have a kitchen scale, two ounces of spaghetti is about three-quarters of an inch in diameter (about 2 centimeters). If you use elbow macaroni or a dry pasta of similar size, 2 ounces is about 1/2 cup. If you want to make buttered egg noodles, 2 ounces of dry egg noodles is about 1 cup. For a healthier option, whole grain or chickpea pasta can be used.
- Butter: I use salted butter but you can use unsalted instead or substitute olive oil or another type of cooking oil for the butter. Taste the finished noodles and add additional salt or extra Parmesan cheese if needed.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic gives a rich aroma, I use 1 or 2 cloves of garlic, sliced. The amount of garlic you add is really a matter of personal preference. If you love garlic as I do, add extra. In a pinch, garlic powder can substitute.
- Parmesan cheese: I prefer freshly grated Parmesan cheese because it will melt beautifully into the buttery pasta. You can use pre-packaged or jarred Parmesan instead but it may not melt as well.
This is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why I used them. For the full recipe please scroll down to the recipe box at the bottom of the post.
How To Make Buttered Noodles For One
These step-by-step photos and instructions help you visualize how to make the best buttered noodles. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Cook pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the pasta water; drain and set the cooked pasta aside.
Pro Tip: Saving a small amount of pasta water is the key to making great pasta. Pasta water is like liquid gold. The pasta water adds flavor and will help the simple butter sauce become thicker and silkier.
- Heat the butter in the same saucepan; add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Remove the pan from the heat and add the cooked pasta and the pasta water. Stir until the pasta is completely coated with butter.
- Add the Parmesan cheese and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Pro Tip: If you are looking for a vegan version of this recipe, you can substitute vegan butter or olive oil for the butter and omit the Parmesan cheese.
- Transfer to a bowl, add additional Parmesan cheese, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
How To Cook Perfect Pasta
- Do not use a pot that is too small. For optimal results, choose a saucepan spacious enough to allow the pasta to expand and move freely during cooking; a 2-quart saucepan should do the trick. Adding pasta to boiling water decreases the temperature momentarily, and a larger pot aids in regaining the boil swiftly.
- Flavoring your pasta begins with salting the water. A guideline often shared is to “salt the water like the sea” – an effective approach despite the pasta not absorbing all the salt. For a single serving, I recommend a salt quantity between 1/4 and 1/2 teaspoon.
- Patience is key in cooking pasta. Ensure the water reaches a full, rolling boil before adding your noodles. If the pasta is introduced too early, it could end up in a lukewarm environment that results in sticky, gummy noodles.
- To avoid clumping or sticking to the pot’s bottom, give your pasta an immediate stir upon adding it into the pot and remember to stir occasionally throughout the cooking process.
- Once your pasta is cooked to your satisfaction, drain it without rinsing. Rinsing lowers the pasta temperature and washes off the starch that helps the sauce adhere to the noodles, both of which are undesirable, especially if you prefer your meal hot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Consider any of these simple recipes that can be cooked while you cook the noodles:
Poached Chicken
Broiled Chicken Breast
Baked Shrimp
Yes, you can add cooked veggies of your choice for a healthier twist.
Yes, you can easily double or triple this recipe to make it for more people.
This recipe calls for using spaghetti, but the beauty of buttered noodles is that you can use almost any dried pasta you have in your pantry. Try some of these other pasta shapes:
* Egg noodles
* Elbow macaroni
* Penne
* Ziti
* Farfalle
* Rigatoni
* Orecchiette
Pro Tip: If you don’t have a kitchen scale, two ounces of spaghetti is about three-quarters of an inch in diameter (about 2 centimeters). If you use elbow macaroni or a dry pasta of similar size, 2 ounces is about 1/2 cup. If you want to make buttered egg noodles, 2 ounces of dry egg noodles is about 1 cup.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your buttered noodles hot, sprinkled with extra parmesan and perhaps a bit of freshly cracked black pepper. Accompany this with a side of roasted vegetables or a fresh salad to complete the meal.
Recipe Variations
While the classic buttered noodles recipe holds its own charm, you can also experiment with different variations:
- Herbed Buttered Noodles: Add a mix of fresh herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme for an aromatic twist.
- Garlic Shrimp Buttered Noodles: Toss in some cooked shrimp for a protein boost.
Remember, the beauty of this recipe lies in its flexibility. Don’t shy away from trying out new combinations and making this dish uniquely yours!
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this single serving buttered noodles recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
- Pasta: Pasta Carbonara, Pasta with Roasted Vegetables, Shrimp Scampi
- Garlic: Lemon and Garlic Chicken, Garlic Smashed Potatoes, Goulash
- Parmesan cheese: Parmesan Crisps, Alfredo Sauce, A Giant Italian Meatball
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Recipe
Buttered Noodles For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ kosher salt to salt the water, plus more to taste
- 2 ounces dry spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 clove garlic ,sliced
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- black pepper , to taste
Instructions
- Bring a medium sized pot of water with 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt to a boil over high heat. Cook for 5 minutes. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the pasta cooking liquid and drain the pasta.
- Place the pasta in a bowl. Melt the butter in the same saucepan; add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally for 1 minute, until the garlic begins to brown slightly. Remove from heat.
- Add the cooked pasta and the pasta water to the pan. Using tongs or a fork toss the pasta with the butter until the noodles are well coated. Add Parmesan and stir. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- Do not use a pot that is too small. For optimal results, choose a saucepan spacious enough to allow the pasta to expand and move freely during cooking; a 2-quart saucepan should do the trick. Adding pasta to boiling water decreases the temperature momentarily, and a larger pot aids in regaining the boil swiftly.
- Flavoring your pasta begins with salting the water. A guideline often shared is to “salt the water like the sea” – an effective approach despite the pasta not absorbing all the salt. For a single serving, I recommend a salt quantity between 1/4 and 1/2 teaspoon.
- Patience is key in cooking pasta. Ensure the water reaches a full, rolling boil before adding your noodles. If the pasta is introduced too early, it could end up in a lukewarm environment that results in sticky, gummy noodles.
- To avoid clumping or sticking to the pot’s bottom, give your pasta an immediate stir upon adding it into the pot and remember to stir occasionally throughout the cooking process.
- Once your pasta is cooked to your satisfaction, drain it without rinsing. Rinsing lowers the pasta temperature and washes off the starch that helps the sauce adhere to the noodles, both of which are undesirable, especially if you prefer your meal hot.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
So simple yet delicious!