Cacio e Pepe (Cheese and Pepper Pasta)

Made with just 5 ingredients, there's nothing minimalist about the rich and creamy taste of this cacio e pepe pasta dish.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 347 Calories

Ingredients

• salt to taste
• 2 (16 ounce) packages dried spaghetti
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
• 2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
• 3.5 cups finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese, or more to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring a 12-quart pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain pasta, reserving 2 cups of cooking water.

Step 2

Return pasta and cooking water to the pot over low heat. Add 3 1/2 cups Pecorino Romano cheese, butter, and pepper. Stir until cheese has melted and formed a creamy sauce, about 5 minutes. Season with salt.

Step 3

Serve with additional cheese, if desired.