Buttered Noodles

You may be wondering: "Do I really need a recipe for buttered noodles?" The answer, of course, is yes. This kid-friendly recipe results in perfect noodles tossed in exactly the right amount of butter. Once you try these four-ingredient buttered noodles, you'll never go back to your old method again.

Buttered Noodles Ingredients

Believe it or not, you can make this incredibly simple dish with just four ingredients:

NoodlesThis recipe calls for fettuccine noodles, but you could use any noodles you have on hand, from penne to spaghetti.

ButterYou can use salted or unsalted butter. Since you'll add more salt at the end, you might want to opt for unsalted (depending on your taste, of course).

ParmesanGrated Parmesan cheese takes this dish up a notch. Buttered noodles don't technically require cheese, so you can leave it out if you want.

Salt and PepperFinish off this easy buttered noodles recipe with salt and ground black pepper.

How to Make Buttered Noodles

It really couldn't be simpler to make buttered noodles at home. You'll find the full recipe below, but here's a brief overview of what you can expect:

Boil the fettuccine in lightly salted water until it's tender, yet still firm. Drain the pasta in a colander, then return it to the pot. Mix butter, cheese, salt, and pepper into the cooked noodles until all the ingredients are evenly combined.

What to Serve With Buttered Noodles

The beauty of buttered noodles? It can work as either a side dish or an entree. What you pair with it depends on how you're serving it.

As a Side Dish

Basic buttered noodles make a great, carb-loaded side dish for hearty mains. In fact, it's a great substitute for mashed potatoes in almost any situation. For instance, try buttered noodles with one of these tasty ideas:

Garlic ChickenEasy MeatloafQuinoa Black Bean Burgers

Explore our entire collection of Main Dish Recipes.

As a Main Dish

If you're planning to serve the buttered noodles as a main dish, try pairing it with one of these light sides:

Roasted Garlic Lemon BroccoliClassic Restaurant Caesar SaladRoasted Vegetable Medley

Explore our entire collection of Side Dish Recipes.

Optional Additions

You don't need to add anything to this buttered noodles recipe, especially if you want to keep things super simple. However, you could shake things up a bit with one (or more) of the following additions: Broccoli, asparagus, herbs (such as parsley or basil), shrimp, sausage, chicken, minced or powdered garlic, and crushed red pepper.

How to Store Buttered Noodles

Store your leftover buttered noodles in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove.

Cookdap Community Tips and Praise

“Perfect side dish,” raves Reginamarie. “Always looking for recipes that can easily be made low sodium! I used unsalted butter and seasoned it with a little garlic powder and pepper! Hubby and I both loved it! Thanks for the recipe!”

“Definitely would make them again,” says Peggy. “The grandchildren said they were the best noodles they ever had! They want them with every meal now! We all loved them!”

“I was a bit hesitant because there were so few ingredients, but these noodles turned out really good,” according to Lisa Noel Rodgers. “I didn’t need to add anything.”