Cacio e Pepe
Cacio e Pepe is my go-to recipe on those days that my to-do list has more items on it than there are hours in the day. This cheese and pepper pasta is the ultimate quick, delicious, and budget-friendly dinner. My foolproof Cacio e Pepe recipe has four ingredients: spaghetti, parmesan, black pepper, and butter. Bonus: It comes together in under 20 minutes and can feed your entire household.
“This was flipping fantastic. I used gluten free pasta due to an allergy, and grabbed a bag of 8 oz of shredded Parmesan at Walmart, then had butter and pepper on hand so my total cost was 4.88 for this recipe. It made five generous servings, then I served it with some rotisserie chicken, which paired fabulously with it. I will be printing this off and adding to my recipe book.”
Kade
Easy Cacio e Pepe Recipe
Cacio e Pepe is Italian for Cheese and Pepper Pasta. This iconic Roman dish was created by shepherds who traveled light and couldn’t carry a bunch of ingredients to feed themselves. So they needed their meals to be filling but easy to execute; all reasons this dish is a smash hit, especially if you’ve got kids! I’m not saying kids are sheep. Sheep listen and don’t talk back. Shepherds had it easy. #truthtopower #momlife
Traditionally, this recipe is made with Pecorino Romano, coarsely ground black pepper, and tonnarelli. While I’m all about coarsely ground black pepper, to keep things easy and budget-friendly, I use grated parmesan, a little butter, and spaghetti. So, no, this is not a traditional Cacio e Pepe recipe. I’m just trying to make life easier for folks who don’t have time to grind black peppercorns in a mortar. And while I know butter is a near sin in some parts of Italy, it helps stabilize the cheese sauce without taking a ton of time. Feel free to smash peppercorns, omit the butter, and work that pasta and cheese to your heart’s content.
Cacio e Pepe
Cost $3.03 recipe / $0.75 serving
Ingredients
- 3/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
- 1/2 lb dry spaghetti* (reserve 1 cup of the pasta water before draining) ($0.59)
- 4 Tbsp salted butter, divided** ($0.50)
- 1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper plus more for garnish*** ($0.17)
- 1 cup Parmesan, grated, plus more for garnish**** ($1.75)
Video
Instructions
-
In a large skillet bring 6 cups of water and 3/4 teaspoon of salt to a boil. Add the dry spaghetti and cook for two minutes less than the package directions call for.
-
Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining the spaghetti. Place the spaghetti in a bowl and set it close to the stove to keep it warm.
-
In the same pan you cooked the spaghetti, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with the black pepper over medium heat. Cook until fragrant.
-
Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water to the pan and stir until a glossy sauce forms.
-
Turn the heat down to low and add the spaghetti to the pan. Top with the grated parmesan and the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.
-
Use tongs to quickly mix the parmesan, butter, spaghetti, and pepper sauce until a creamy sauce forms. Serve immediately and garnish with additional pepper and parmesan cheese.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Notes
**If using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the sauce.
***If using finely ground black pepper (like the kind that comes pre-ground), use 1/2 teaspoon.
****Try to use fresh parmesan, which will actually melt. If you use the powdery stuff in the green bottle, it will leave you with a grainy sauce.
Nutrition Information
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!How to Make Cacio e Pepe Step-by-Step Photos
Boil the pasta: When boiling your pasta, use a smaller pan and less water. This concentrates the amount of starch in the water, which will help your ingredients combine smoothly to create a velvety sauce. I use a large skillet.
Bring 6 cups of water and 3/4 teaspoons of salt to a boil in a large skillet. Add a 1/2 pound of dry spaghetti and boil for two minutes less than the package directions call for, until just before al dente.
Before draining the spaghetti, reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Once drained, place the spaghetti in a bowl and set it close to the stove to keep it warm.
Make the sauce: In the same skillet you used to cook the spaghetti, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 teaspoon of coarsely ground black pepper over medium heat. Simmer the pepper in the melted butter until nice and fragrant.
Add in 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water and stir until the sauce becomes glossy and thickens.
Turn down the heat from medium to low. Add the spaghetti, the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, and the cup of grated parmesan. It’s important to turn your heat down to low; otherwise, your cheese will glop and get stringy. It’s ok if your sauce steams, but if you see it start to bubble, take the pan off the heat to cool things down quickly.
Over low heat, combine the parmesan, butter, spaghetti, and black pepper sauce until a creamy cheese sauce forms. I use kitchen tongs to do this. Add more pasta water to thin the sauce if necessary. If the sauce starts to simmer, take the pan off the heat.
Serve: Plate your Cacio e Pepe immediately and garnish with more grated parmesan and a few more grinds of black pepper. Try not to gobble it up so fast that you cover your cheeks with cheese sauce. (That’s mostly a note for me. I inhaled this stuff so fast I left Beth clutching her pearls.)
Why You Keep Pasta Water
Pasta water is liquid gold when creating a sauce, especially a cheese sauce. As spaghetti boils, it releases starch into the water. That starch has incredible binding power and not only helps pull together a sauce, but it also helps it bind to the pasta, as shown in this recipe! Here are some more ideas on how to use reserved pasta water from this dish:
- Try substituting pasta water for milk the next time you make boxed mac and cheese, and watch the magic happen.
- Try freezing your pasta water in ice cube trays and tossing a cube in when making a pan sauce, beans, or soups.
- Or melt the cube and use it instead of plain water when making bread, as the starch in the water will help the bread rise.
Can you Make Cacio e Pepe Ahead Of Time?
Most people will say you can’t make this recipe ahead of time. Those people have never worked in a restaurant kitchen. To make your Cacio e Pepe up to a day ahead, you will need to par-cook the pasta and the sauce.
For the pasta:
- Cook the pasta for half the time recommended on the package. Drain the pasta, reserving about a cup of the pasta water.
- Refrigerate the pasta water in an airtight container and spread the pasta on a sheet pan. Allow it to cool.
- Once cool, toss with 1 teaspoon of olive oil per pound of pasta. Refrigerate for up to 24 hours in an airtight container
For the sauce:
- Dissolve 1 tablespoon of cornstarch into a cup of water. Add it to a small pan and bring it to a simmer, constantly stirring, until it thickens into a syrup. Allow the syrup to cool.
- Then, add the cheese, pepper, and butter to a blender. Pulse to combine the ingredients.
- Next, pour in the cooled cornstarch syrup. Blend until a thick sauce forms. Store in an airtight container with a piece of plastic placed over the surface of the sauce so skin doesn’t form.
When it’s time to cook, boil the pasta in salted water for a minute or two until just before al dente. Drain the pasta, removing it from the pan. Then, bring a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water to a simmer in the saucepan. Add the cheese sauce and stir until it loosens. Next, add the pasta. Stir the pasta, adding pasta water little by little, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
Serving Suggestions
This creamy, cheesy pasta dish just calls for something fresh and light on the side. I like making our kale white bean and pesto salad for some added protein and a boost of herby flavor. A cucumber salad would also be nice and refreshing on a warm summer’s day! Or, if they’re in season, grab some butternut squash and make a roasted butternut squash salad. A side of garlic bread, baked chicken breasts, or a simple arugula salad would also be delicious.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days. Then, reheat leftovers in a pan set over medium heat. To loosen the sauce, add a tablespoon or two of pasta water to the pan (or plain water if you didn’t reserve pasta water). Stir constantly until the pasta is steaming.
Try These Italian-Inspired Pasta Recipes:
- Spaghetti Aglio e Olio is what I make when the fridge is looking a little sad, but I still want dinner to taste like I had a plan!
- This Fettuccine Alfredo proves you don’t need a carton of cream to make a bowl of pasta that’s glossy, luscious, and worthy of a second helping.
- Angel Hair Pasta Pomodoro is my kind of weeknight pasta because it’s light, saucy, full of tomato flavor, and on the table fast.
