A handful of ingredients transform into the most perfect, creamy, cheesy pasta
1. In a large saucepan, bring water to boil. Add pasta and salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until pasta is al dente (tender but still a bit chewy), 10 to 12 minutes.
2. Turn off heat. Transfer 1/4 cup cooking water to a liquid measuring cup. Drain pasta in a colander. Return drained pasta to the now-empty saucepan.
3. Add cheese, butter, and 2 tablespoons of reserved cooking water to the saucepan with the pasta. Return the saucepan to low heat.
4. Toss and stir constantly to combine, about 30 seconds. Turn off heat, cover saucepan, and let pasta sit for 1 minute.
5. Toss and stir pasta constantly again until sauce thoroughly coats pasta and cheese is melted, about 30 seconds. (If the sauce is too thick, thin as needed with remaining cooking water, 1 tablespoon at a time.)
6. Transfer pasta to a bowl. Sprinkle with extra cheese and pepper (if using). Serve.
(For 25 years, home cooks have relied on America’s Test Kitchen for rigorously tested recipes developed by professional test cooks and vetted by 60,000 at-home recipe testers. The family of brands — which includes Cook’s Illustrated, Cook’s Country, and America’s Test Kitchen Kids — offers reliable recipes for cooks of all ages and skill levels. See more online at www.americastestkitchen.com/TCA.)
©2022 America’s Test Kitchen. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
