Buttered Noodles
If you have a picky eater then this is the recipe for you! Buttered Noodles is the one thing kids will always eat. Who could resist noodles tossed with butter and Parmesan cheese? So easy to make and delicious!
Ah, buttered noodles. The classic favorite comfort food of all picky eaters! This simple dish may be labeled as something only picky eaters ask for, but I would disagree. I think more people should reach for something like this buttered noodles recipe. Buttered noodles with parmesan is just cheesy enough and loaded with delicious buttery flavor.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- You can make a big batch of these easy buttered noodles in just 15 minutes. Super fast and don’t require much effort. Your kids can even make it on their own.
- These noodles only require four simple ingredients and are a favorite for everyone.
- Serve these alongside any main dish or protein. Plain butter noodles can be adapted to fit any flavor profile and pair well with so many different things.
Ingredients for Buttered Noodles
- Spaghetti – For a more kid friendly option, use elbow noodles or spiral pasta. Raid the pantry! You can also use egg noodles, capellini, angel hair or anything else your family loves.
- Garlic powder – If you’re making these for an extra picky eater, feel free to leave out the garlic powder. I do love the extra flavor it adds to this recipe!
- Butter – Salted butter will add more flavor but you can also use unsalted butter if you prefer.
- Parmesan cheese – Parmesan cheese is the secret ingredient to making the most perfect butter noodles. Your picky eater will love the cheese!
How to Cook Noodles
- Cook noodles to al dente according to the package directions. Reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water and drain the cooked noodles.
- Place the noodles into a large mixing bowl. Add cubed butter, garlic powder, parmesan cheese and reserved water.
- Mix the ingredients together until butter and cheese melt and noodles are well coated.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired, then serve.
Storage and Reheating
FRIDGE: Store leftover garlic butter noodles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
FREEZER: These tasty noodles can also be frozen. Place them into freezer safe bags or an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
To reheat, place in the microwave or on the stove top until heated through. If the noodles are a bit dry, add extra butter.
Pro Tips
- For the cheesiest results, grate your own parmesan cheese. You can also add extra cheese to the noodles if you want them extra gooey.
- Don’t forget to salt your pasta water. It adds more flavor and makes the texture of the noodles much better.
- It is important that you follow the cooking instruction for your noodles exactly. Overcooked noodles can become gummy and sticky.
FAQs
If your pot is large enough, you do not need to break your spaghetti noodles before placing them in the boiling water. However, if you have a small pot it could be beneficial to break the noodles so that they cook more easily.
If the kids are starting to open up to the idea of something green in their spaghetti, sprinkle with fresh herbs like parsley, basil or oregano to serve. Adding frozen peas to the pasta water for a few minutes to warm them is another good way to add some greens to this dish.
Maybe one day you can even crack some fresh ground black pepper on top of everyone’s dish!
Win points with your picky eater and make a delicious and easy dish that they’ll love every bite of. Add this buttery and mildly garlicky pasta to your weekly rotation as a side dish or dress it up as a main.
Buttered Noodles
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti or any other noodle
- ½ cup butter cut into cubes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Chopped parsley optional for garnish
Instructions
- Boil the spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water until pasta is al dente. Drain but reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
- Cube the butter.
- In a large bowl, add the cooked noodles, cubed butter, garlic powder, parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water. Toss to combine and allow the heat from the noodles to melt butter and cheese.
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley if desired. Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
How to Serve Buttered Noodles
These yummy buttered noodles can be served all on their own, but are great paired with other things too. Serve them alongside some english muffin pizzas or maybe ham and cheese roll ups.
Buttered noodles would also be delicious eaten with pizza crescent rolls. Homemade uncrustables and garlic butter noodles are a favorite simple lunch in our house!
This is also such a quick side dish for an easy store bought Rotisserie chicken!
More Kid-Friendly Recipes
- Creamy and cheesy, Cream Cheese Pasta will have the kids asking for seconds of this easy weeknight dish.
- Protein? Check. Veggies? Check. Pasta? Check. You’ve got it all covered with a simple Chicken and Noodles dish that will please even the pickiest of eaters.
- For the more adventurous eaters, make cheesy, saucy Taco Spaghetti.
