The classic Tagliatelle Alfredo, known as ''tagliatelle al burro'' in Italy, is the ultimate comfort food. It’s incredibly simple, made with only tagliatelle pasta, butter, and Parmesan cheese. The best part? It takes just 15 minutes and only four ingredients to whip up! Perfect for when you’re craving something warm, easy, and satisfying.
Tagliatelle Recipe
One evening, my Italian friend Sofia invited me over for dinner, promising something simple. When I arrived, her cozy kitchen smelled amazing, like pasta and melting butter. On the counter, she had just a few things: a bowl of grated Parmesan, a small dish of butter, and fresh tagliatelle.
“You’re in for a treat,” she said with a wink. “This is tagliatelle al burro, the real way.” I’d had Alfredo before, but Sofia said this version was lighter and even better.
When the pasta was done, she tossed it with butter, coating every strand, then added Parmesan. “Only four ingredients,” she smiled as she served it. “That’s all you need.”
One bite and I was in heaven, rich, salty, and comforting. I joked, “So, does anyone actually eat the heavy Alfredo in Italy?” She laughed, “Only if they don’t know better!”
Since then, I’ve made this simple tagliatelle alfredo often, always thinking of that night in Sofia’s kitchen and how the simplest meals are sometimes the best.
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⭐Why You'll Love This Tagliatelle Alfredo
- Quick & Easy: This Tagliatelle Alfredo tastes so luxurious but is super simple to make. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or impressing guests without much effort.
- Creamy & Velvety: The butter and Parmesan melt together into a smooth, rich sauce that coats each pasta strand perfectly. The secret? Pasta water helps emulsify the sauce, making it creamy without any heavy cream.
- Customizable: While classic Alfredo is amazing on its own, you can easily tweak it. Add more pepper for a kick, sprinkle extra cheese for richness, or toss in some fresh herbs like parsley for a bright touch.
- Authentic Italian Flavor: This recipe brings a taste of Italy right to your table, celebrating the beauty of simple, high-quality ingredients done perfectly.
🧾Tagliatelle Alfredo Ingredients
Here’s what you need to make this Tagliatelle Alfredo:
For the Pasta:
- Sea Salt: I use sea salt to season the pasta water, it’s essential for boosting flavor so the pasta doesn’t taste bland. Salting the water helps the pasta absorb flavor and cook evenly.
- Tagliatelle: Tagliatelle is my go-to for Alfredo because its wide, flat shape holds onto the creamy sauce perfectly, giving you a satisfying bite every time.
- Salted Butter: A bit of salted butter tossed with the pasta adds richness and helps the sauce stick, making each bite smooth and delicious.
For the Alfredo Sauce:
- Salted Butter: This is the base of the Alfredo sauce, bringing a silky texture and a hint of saltiness that makes the sauce rich and smooth.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan gives the sauce its creamy, nutty flavor and thickens it up nicely. It melts into the butter, creating a luxurious sauce with deep flavor.
- Black Pepper: A touch of black pepper adds warmth and just a hint of spice, balancing out the richness of the butter and cheese and adding depth to the flavor.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Tagliatelle Alfredo
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Season boiling water with sea salt, add the tagliatelle pasta, and cook for 7 minutes, or until al dente.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together 100g of salted butter, Parmesan cheese, and a ladle of pasta water until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
3. Melt 50 g of salted butter in a large pan over low to medium heat, drain the tagliatelle, and add it to the pan. Toss to coat with the melted butter and a splash of pasta water.
4. Remove the tagliatelle from the heat and transfer it to a large bowl. Toss the tagliatelle with Alfredo sauce and black pepper until coated. Add more black pepper to taste. Serve hot and enjoy!
📖Variations
- Chicken Tagliatelle Alfredo: Slice up grilled or sautéed chicken breast, season with salt, pepper, and garlic, and toss with the Alfredo and pasta.
- Shrimp Tagliatelle Alfredo: Sauté shrimp in garlic and a little butter until pink, then mix into the Alfredo sauce and pasta.
- Mushroom Tagliatelle Alfredo: Sauté mushrooms in butter until golden, and add to the sauce. A splash of white wine makes it extra tasty.
- Lemon Alfredo Tagliatelle: Add lemon zest and a squeeze of juice to the sauce for a bright, fresh flavor.
💭Tips for Recipe Success
Cook Pasta to Al Dente: Slightly undercook the pasta so it’s still firm; it’ll keep cooking when you mix it with the sauce. This way, it won’t turn mushy and will hold the sauce better.
Add Sauce Off the Heat: Once the pasta’s ready, take it off the heat before adding the Alfredo sauce. This keeps the cheese from getting gritty or oily.
Thin the Sauce with Pasta Water: If the sauce seems thick, add a little pasta water, just a tablespoon at a time—to reach the right creamy texture. It also helps the sauce cling to the noodles.
Serve Right Away: Alfredo sauce thickens as it cools, so enjoy it right after tossing. If needed, add a splash of warm pasta water to keep it creamy just before serving.
Warm Your Bowls: For extra coziness, use warm bowls to help keep the pasta creamy and warm longer!
🍛More Pasta Recipes to Try!
Love this Tagliatelle Alfredo? You’ll also enjoy these delicious pasta recipes:
- Homemade Pasta with Basil Pesto Sauce
- Tuna Pasta Salad
- Gigi Hadid Pasta
- Cherry Tomato Pasta
- Apple Macaroni
🍛More Dinner Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite dinner recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Tagliatelle Alfredo
Ingredients
For Pasta:
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 200 g Tagliatelle
- 50 g Salted Butter
For Alfredo Sauce:
- 100 g Salted Butter
- 60 g Parmesan Cheese
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil and add the sea salt.
- Add the tagliatelle and cook for 7 minutes, according to the package instructions, until al dente.
- In a medium bowl, combine the 100 g of salted butter, Parmesan cheese, and a ladle of pasta water, then whisk until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
- In a large pan over low to medium heat, melt the 50 g of salted butter.
- Drain the tagliatelle and add directly to the pan with the butter. Toss the pasta to coat it with melted butter and a bit of the pasta water.
- Remove the tagliatelle from the heat and place in a large serving bowl.
- Add the Alfredo sauce and black pepper to the tagliatelle, tossing until the pasta is fully coated.
- Taste and adjust with more black pepper if desired. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
John says
This tagliatelle alfredo is the perfect balance of rich, creamy sauce and al dente pasta. The parmesan cheese adds a wonderful depth of flavor.