Cooking Kitchen Love Recipes

Cacio e Pepe: The Easiest Pasta Dish EVER

Name: Cacio e Pepe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 11 min
Ingredients: 1 box bucatini pasta or long pasta like linguine; 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (more for serving); 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 cup reserved pasta water; 1 tsp salt; 2 tsp pepper; 2 cloves garlic

March 19, 2019 by fourseasonsofautumn No Comments

When I come home from traveling I always want a home cooked meal. However, the last thing I want to do is run to the grocery store. Luckily the easiest pasta dish you’ll ever make only requires a few ingredients that you likely already have. Cacio e Pepe: The Easiest Pasta Dish Ever – it sounds super fancy, tastes super fancy, but can be made in under 10 minutes while wearing sweat pants. Need I say more?

I absolutely LOVE this dish. As mush as I love to cook and experiment, I always find the meals that require the fewest ingredients and least amount of work are the tastiest. I think that’s why I love French and Italian cooking the most. They rely on the basics to master perfect dishes.

Easy and Inexpensive

Cacio e Pepe literally takes just minutes to make. And in translation it means “Cheese and Pepper”. Who doesn’t love that combinations?? It feeds a large crowd. It satisfies the biggest of appetites. And always leaves me smiling. I’m headed out on a work trip this week and I already know I’ll be making this when I return. The ingredients are already in my fridge and cupboard and I’ll be able to eat it within minutes of arriving home.

The traditional recipe for this does not call for lemon but it’s always a nice touch to add some freshly grated lemon zest – especially when it’s feeling all springy outside like it is now in Michigan. Don’t let the name of this pasta dish scare you. Trust me – you can master it! If you’re a novice cook and you really want to impress someone – make this! Cheers! xoxo

Cacio e Pepe

The most basic and simplest pasta dishes you can make. Super tasty and a dish anyone can master.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 6 mins

Total Time 11 mins

Servings 6

Ingredients

1 box bucatini pasta or long pasta like linguine
1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (more for serving)
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup reserved pasta water
1 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
2 cloves garlic

Instructions

Cook the pasta al dente. Reserve 1/2-1 cup of pasta water before draining.
Add 2 tbsp of olive oil to a pan. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Do not let the garlic burn. Add the cooked pasta and mix well. Add the water, salt and pepper. Mix well and then add the cheese. Transfer the pasta to a serving dish and serve with more freshly grated cheese.

For some other tasty and easy pasta dishes check out more of my recipes.