Cacio e Pepe

User Reviews

4.9

28 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    5 mins

  • Cook Time

    15 mins

  • Total Time

    20 mins

  • Servings

    4

  • Calories

    410 kcal

  • Course

    Lunch, Dinner

  • Cuisine

    Italian

Cacio e Pepe

Cacio e Pepe is a mouthwatering pasta dish that uses four ingredients, comes together in twenty minutes, and feeds your entire household. Before you know it, you'll be yelling "Dinner's ready!"

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 3/4 tsp salt $0.02
  • 1/2 lb spaghetti $0.59, dry
  • 4 Tbsp butter $0.50, salted, divided
  • 1 tsp black pepper $0.17, coarsely ground, plus more for garnish
  • 1 cup Parmesan Cheese $1.75, grated, plus more for garnish

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. In the same pan you cooked the spaghetti, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with the black pepper over medium heat. Cook until fragrant.
  4. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water to the pan and stir until a glossy sauce forms.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.

Notes

  • *I like to use a long noodle-shaped pasta with some texture and toothiness so the sauce can cling to it without overpowering it. While tonnarelli is the traditional pasta used in this recipe, spaghetti or bucatini works just as great. Steer clear of linguine and angel hair, which will fall apart quickly and become a gummy mess.
  • *I like to use a
  •  long noodle-shaped pasta
  •  with some texture and
  • toothiness
  • so the sauce can cling to it without overpowering it. While 
  • tonnarelli
  •  is the traditional pasta used in this recipe, 
  • spaghetti
  •  or 
  • bucatini
  •  works just as great.
  •  Steer clear of linguine and angel hair, which will fall apart quickly and become a gummy mess.
  • **If using unsalted butter, add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the sauce.
  • **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.
  • ***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.
  • ****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

Show Details
Serving 1serving Calories 410kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 43g (14%) Protein 17g (34%) Fat 19g (29%) Sodium 930mg (39%) Fiber 2g (8%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 410 kcal

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 410kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 43g 14%
Protein 17g 34%
Fat 19g 29%
Sodium 930mg 39%
Fiber 2g 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Genuine Reviews

User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.9

28 reviews
Excellent

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