Best Brown Butter Pasta Recipes

PASTA WITH BROWN BUTTER AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water (2 heaping tablespoons kosher salt to about 7 quarts water) to a boil. Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta, but don't shake it fully dry.
• In a skillet or Dutch oven large enough to hold the pasta (and preferably with a light-colored bottom so you can see the butter solids brown), melt the butter over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until the foam subsides, the milk solids turn golden-brown and it smells nutty and toasty, 3 to 4 minutes. (Watch carefully to see that it does not burn. If it does, start over.) Remove from heat immediately.
• Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss with the brown butter. Stir in the cheese until melted. Stir in pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the pasta is glossy with sauce (you probably won't need the full 1/2 cup).
• Serve with black pepper and more Parmesan on top.

SAUTéED BEETS WITH PASTA, SAGE AND BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Put butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Heat butter until it turns nutty brown, then add the beets and sage leaves.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beets are tender and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add some cooked pasta and toss. Garnish with Parmesan.

PASTA WITH SAUSAGE, SQUASH AND SAGE BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, cook the sausage: In a sauté pan or skillet large enough to hold all the pasta, add the sausage and enough cold water to cover. Set over medium-high heat, then remove from the heat when the water hits a boil, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Transfer the sausage to a cutting board and cut into 1/2-inch coins. Dry out the pan and return it to the stove.
• In the same pan, heat the olive oil over high until nearly smoking. Add the sausage and cook, flipping once, until dark brown on both sides, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate, then reduce the heat to medium. Add the squash and a pinch of salt to the pan. Let cook, stirring briefly and scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
• While the squash is browning, add pasta to boiling water, and cook to al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta.
• When the squash is nicely browned, add the butter and sage and cook until the butter is golden, nutty smelling and foaming, just a minute or two, then immediately remove the pan from the heat and add back the sausage.
• Add the pasta to the pan and mix with the brown-butter sauce (if the pasta has cooled off quite a bit, return the pan to low heat while you combine everything). Stir in the cheese, then add pasta water as needed to smooth the sauce. Adjust with salt and pepper, and serve with extra Parmesan, if you like.

WINTER PASTA WITH BROWN BUTTER, SQUASH, AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Spread squash into a baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper over squash; toss to coat.
• Roast in the preheated oven until squash is browned and softened, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and keep warm.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook the linguine at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, 10 to 11 minutes. Drain linguine, reserving 1 cup pasta water.
• Melt butter in a pot over medium heat until bubbling and slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Cook and stir garlic and pine nuts in the brown butter until fragrant, 2 minutes. Add linguine, arugula, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and enough pasta water to moisten to the mixture. Toss until Parmesan cheese melts.
• Transfer linguine mixture to serving plates and top with roasted squash and 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese.

PASTA WITH CRISPY SAGE AND MISO BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain, saving 1 cup of pasta cooking water.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook shallots until softened, about 8 minutes. Remove all from heat and set aside.
• Melt butter in the same skillet until it foams. Add sage leaves, reduce heat slightly, and cook until butter is browned and sage is crispy, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and take out sage from the butter. Set aside.
• Whisk miso paste into the browned butter immediately. Add a splash of preserved pasta water, shallots, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with a drizzle of olive oil and top with crispy sage and Parmesan cheese.

PASTA WITH BROWN BUTTER, WHOLE LEMON, AND PARMESAN

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling generously salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions (pasta will finish cooking in the sauce).
• Meanwhile, heat half of the butter in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium until melted. Add lemon slices and cook, stirring often, until softened and bottom of pot is browned in spots, 5-7 minutes. Using tongs, transfer one-third of lemon slices to a plate; set aside.
• Just before pasta is al dente, scoop out 2 cups pasta cooking liquid. Add 1½ cups pasta cooking liquid to butter sauce. (This may seem like a lot of liquid, but it will thicken once the remaining ingredients are added.) Add remaining butter a piece at a time, whisking until each piece is incorporated before adding more, until the sauce is emulsified and creamy.
• Drain pasta and add to sauce. Cook, stirring often and adding 1 oz. Parmesan a little at a time. Once all of the cheese is added, continue to cook, still stirring, until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy and clings to pasta, about 3 minutes. If sauce looks very thick, add more pasta cooking liquid 1-2 Tbsp. at a time to thin (saucier is ideal as it will thicken as it cools). Remove from heat and sprinkle with an almost ridiculous amount of pepper (about 2 tsp.); toss once more.
• Serve pasta topped with reserved lemon rounds and more Parmesan.

PASTA WITH DELICATA SQUASH AND SAGE-BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium. Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until butter turns caramel-brown and smells nutty, 2-3 minutes. Add sage leaves and fry until crispy, 10-15 seconds. Remove from heat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer sage to paper towels to drain. Pour all but 2 Tbsp. brown butter into a small bowl.
• Cook panko and 4 sage leaves in same skillet, stirring to break up sage, until mixture is toasty, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
• Cook squash and 3 Tbsp. brown butter in same skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until squash begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. pepper, and 3/4 cup water; cover pan and cook until squash begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Remove lid and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated and squash is tender and caramelized, about 5 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 8-10 minutes. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup pasta cooking liquid.
• Add remaining 3 Tbsp. brown butter to skillet and stir until squash is evenly coated. Add 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid and simmer until a thin sauce forms, about 1 minute; season with 1 tsp. pepper. Add pasta, tossing to coat and adding pasta cooking water as needed to coat pasta. Remove from heat, top with half of the reserved sage, and stir to combine.
• Transfer pasta to a large serving bowl or individual pasta bowls. Top with panko mixture, remaining sage, and a generous shaving of Parmesan.

PASTA WITH SUGAR SNAP PEAS, ASPARAGUS, RICOTTA AND BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, about 12 minutes.
• Heat oil in medium sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, until softened and slightly brown, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Add snap peas, asparagus and lemon juice, and cook, stir for 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pasta to sauté pan, and add 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water to pan.
• Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until water is almost absorbed and peas and asparagus are bright green but tender, about 4 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat butter in small pan over high heat, swirling as butter begins to change colour. As soon as butter browns, about 4 minutes, remove from heat.
• Stir mint and lemon zest into pasta and divide pasta among four bowls.
• Top each bowl with 1- 1/2 tablespoons ricotta, 1/4 of the hazelnuts, and drizzle with 1 tablespoon brown butter.

CHICKEN SALTIMBOCCA WITH BROWN BUTTER ANGEL HAIR PASTA

Steps:

• Heat the butter and fry the sage leaves. Remove the sage leaves and continue to cook the butter until brown. Reserve.
• Pound out the chicken breasts and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Lay 5 sage leaves across each chicken breast and wrap in prosciutto. Cook in a pan over medium-high heat with olive oil. Flip once cooked through. Remove from the heat and let rest.
• Cook the pasta according to package directions. Remove from the water and toss with Parmesan, the reserved brown butter, garlic, lemon zest and lemon juice.
• Slice the chicken saltimbocca and place on top of the pasta.

PASTA WITH KALE, BROWN BUTTER, AND ANCHOVY

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook fettuccine at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.
• While the pasta is cooking, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until butter is browned and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic, anchovies, olive oil, thyme, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute. Add kale and cook, stirring, another 1 to 2 minutes. Add cooked fettuccini, 2/3 cup cooking liquid, and salt; toss to coat. Add remaining cooking liquid if pasta seems dry. Sprinkle with Romano cheese and serve with lemon wedges.

BROWN BUTTER PASTA

Steps:

• Bring large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
• While water heats, over med. heat combine butter, nutmeg and tumeric.
• Heat, stirring frequently, until butter has melted and browned slightly (8 mins.).
• Meanwhile, in food processor grate cheese
• Add breadcrumbs and pine nuts and pulse several times until mixture resembles coarse sand. Set aside.
• Add pasta to boiling water and cook according to package directions.
• Drain and return to pot.
• Pour butter mixture over pasta and toss to coat.
• Transfer to serving bowl and sprinkle breadcrumb mixture over top.

RUFFLED PASTA WITH HERBED RICOTTA AND PINE NUT BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Stir together ricotta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, herbs, pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large serving bowl.
• Cook pasta in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta in a colander.
• While pasta is boiling, heat butter and oil in a deep 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides. Add pine nuts and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, until nut and butter mixture is golden brown, about 3 minutes.
• Add drained pasta to pine nut butter along with 1/3 cup of reserved pasta cooking water and stir to coat. Thin ricotta mixture with 1/2 cup more of reserved cooking water, then add pasta and toss to combine. Thin with some of remaining reserved cooking water if necessary. Serve immediately.

CHICKEN MARSALA WITH BROWN BUTTER PASTA

Steps:

• 1. Rinse, trim fat, and pound to 1/2 inch each chicken breast. Slice into cutlets and set aside.
• 2. Melt 1/2 stick of butter and 2 Tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet. Heat over medium-high until butter is melted. Add mushrooms and green onions. Saute over medium-high heat until water is cooked out of mushrooms and they are starting to brown. Remove from pan and set aside.
• 3. Add another 1/2 stick of butter to the pan. Try not to cringe. Add more oil if necessary. The oil helps the butter not to burn. Also start your large pot of boiling water for the pasta at this point.
• 4. Combine flour, marjoram, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Lightly coat chicken breasts in flour and place in a single layer in frying pan over medium heat. Allow to brown on both sides. Remove and repeat with remaining breast cutlets. Remove all when done, leaving behind the butter and brown bits in the pan. It is okay if there is a bit of pink in the middle. They will cook more in the sauce at the end.
• 5. Add Marsala and let simmer for approximately 1 minute. Add chicken broth. Stir to combine and add in mushroom/onion mixture and chicken breasts. Stir a bit and then let simmer over medium-low heat. Cook until sauce is thickened, approximately 20 minutes.
• 6. While your sauce is simmering and thickening is the time to start your brown butter. In a small pot melt 1/2 stick of butter over medium heat. Don't touch it, but watch it carefully. It will start to bubble, foam, and under that foam it will start to brown. Brown well, removing from heat just before you think it'll burn. If you under-brown it you end up with greasy pasta. If you brown it well you end up with little bites of heaven.
• 7. When pasta is done, drain well and toss with browned butter and grated parmigiano reggiano or myzithra cheese.
• 8. Place your chicken on top of your pasta. Spoon some of the sauce with the mushrooms and scallions over the chicken. Eat without guilt knowing that your are going to do some sort of exercise the next two weeks for eating this heavenly dish. Enjoy!

BROWN BUTTER PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil.
• While the water heats, in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the butter, nutmeg and turmeric.
• Heat, stirring frequently, until the butter has melted and browned slightly, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, use a food processor to finely grate the cheese.
• Add the bread crumbs and pine nuts, then pulse several times, or until the mixture resembles coarse sand.
• Set aside.
• Once the water has boiled, add the pasta and cook according to package directions.
• Drain and return to the pot.
• Pour the butter mixture over the pasta and toss to coat.
• Transfer the pasta, along with any butter in the pan, to a large serving bowl. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the pasta.

MIZITHRA BROWN BUTTER PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. When pasta is almost done, start slowly melting butter over medium heat until golden. Skim butter solids off top. Toss pasta with butter. Sprinkle with grated mizithra cheese, and enjoy.

PASTA WITH BROWN BUTTER, CINNAMON, ALMONDS, AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the packaging. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of cooking liquid. 2. While pasta cooks, melt butter in a medium-sized skillet over medium-low heat. Stir often with a wooden spoon until butter turns light brown and becomes fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add almonds and garlic, stir well, and cook until almonds are light brown and toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in cinnamon and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Set aside until pasta is cooked. 3. Increase heat on skillet to high, add pasta, pasta water, and lemon juice. Toss well. Continue cooking until sauce reduces and coats the noodles. Season to taste with salt. Serve noodles with goat cheese and grated parmesan.

BROWN BUTTER BRUSSELS SPROUTS PASTA

Steps:

• Add the butter to a small saucepan over medium heat. Melt the butter, stirring frequently. Continue to cook the butter until brown bits form at the bottom of the pan. It will take about 6-8 minutes. Once the butter is brown remove it from the heat.
• Cook the pasta in a large pot according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water.
• While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl to coat the bottom and then add in the shallot, shaved brussels sprouts, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Sauté until the brussels sprouts are tender and caramelized, about 6-8 minutes.
• Once the brussels sprouts are tender, squeeze in the juice of a lemon and add in the parmesan cheese and pappardelle. Pour in the brown butter and add in about 1/3 cup of the pasta water (more if needed).
• Toss everything together with tongs until it's coated in the sauce. Top with the toasted walnuts and extra parmesan cheese before serving.

TWISTED PASTA WITH BROWN BUTTER AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Lay walnuts on a baking sheet and bake 7 to 10 minutes, until toasted and fragrant. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
• In a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Continue to heat and stir the butter until it turns light brown, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the sage leaves. Cook until crisped and the butter has turned a dark shade of brown.
• Toss the butter and sage gently with the pasta, being careful not to break the sage leaves up too much. Divide pasta among serving bowls and top with the crushed toasted walnuts.

PASTA WITH BROWN BUTTER, WHOLE LEMON, AND PARMESAN RECIPE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling generously salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions (pasta will finish cooking in the sauce).
• Meanwhile, heat half of the butter in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium until melted. Add lemon slices and cook, stirring often, until softened and bottom of pot is browned in spots, 5-7 minutes. Using tongs, transfer one-third of lemon slices to a plate; set aside.
• Just before pasta is al dente, scoop out 2 cups pasta cooking liquid. Add 1½ cups pasta cooking liquid to butter sauce. (This may seem like a lot of liquid, but it will thicken once the remaining ingredients are added.) Add remaining butter a piece at a time, whisking until each piece is incorporated before adding more, until the sauce is emulsified and creamy.
• Drain pasta and add to sauce. Cook, stirring often and adding 1 oz. Parmesan a little at a time. Once all of the cheese is added, continue to cook, still stirring, until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy and clings to pasta, about 3 minutes. If sauce looks very thick, add more pasta cooking liquid 1-2 Tbsp. at a time to thin (saucier is ideal as it will thicken as it cools). Remove from heat and sprinkle with an almost ridiculous amount of pepper (about 2 tsp.); toss once more.
• Serve pasta topped with reserved lemon rounds and more Parmesan.