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Cowboy Buttered Noodles

Cowboy Buttered Noodles

Bold, buttery, and weeknight-easy—these cowboy buttered noodles amp up classic buttered pasta with zesty cowboy butter. A fast, flavor-packed dinner.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course, Pasta, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 4 Servings

Equipment

  • Normal Kitchen Utensils

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Lb Rotini Pasta Or any pasta you like
  • 1 Stick Cold Butter Divided into eight
  • 1 Lemon, Zested and Juiced
  • 2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
  • 2 Tbsp Chopped Chives or Green Onion
  • 3-4 Cloves Garlic Minced
  • 1 Tbsp Fresh Parsley Or 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes Sub cayenne if you like serious spice, or regular paprika if you don't
  • 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
  • Salt to Taste At least 2 Tbsp for pasta water

Instructions
 

  • Boil the pasta in 3-4 Quarts of water with 1.5-2 Tbsp of salt. Boil for the shortest time range on the instructions.
    1 Lb Rotini Pasta
  • When the pasta is finished, reserve 1 C of pasta water and drain.
  • Back in the (now empty) pot, melt 2 pieces of the butter over low heat. Add the garlic and cook for a minute to soften.
    1 Stick Cold Butter, 3-4 Cloves Garlic
  • Cut the heat and add the Dijon, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika and pepper. If using dried parsley, add it now too.
    1 Lemon, Zested and Juiced, 2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, 1/4 tsp Black Pepper, 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • Add the drained pasta along with 1/4 C of water and stir to combine.
  • Add 2 pieces of butter and stir until just melted. Letting the residual heat from the pasta just barely melt the butter as you stir will help it emulsify into a thicker sauce.
  • Add another 1/4 C pasta water and 2 more pieces of butter. Stir again until just melted.
  • Add the lemon zest chives, fresh parsley and remaining butter. If the sauce is still looking a little dry, add another 1/4 C pasta water. Stir to melt the butter.
    2 Tbsp Chopped Chives or Green Onion, 1 Tbsp Fresh Parsley
  • If necessary, add the remaining pasta water and stir to combine. Season with salt to taste.
    Salt to Taste
  • Enjoy!
Keyword Butter, Chive, Dijon, Garlic, Paprika, Pasta, Smokey, Spicy, Worcestershire, Yellow