Buttered noodles are a simple yet delicious side dish that pairs with almost any meal.

Simple comfort food at its best, and as the title indicates, it only needs noodles, butter, and a dash of parmesan cheese!

This dish will satisfy the pickiest of eaters and is great smothered with gravy, sauce or eaten on its own.

close up of Buttered Noodles

Classic Buttered Noodles to the Rescue

Buttered noodles recipes have been around for generations and are often a child’s first introduction to solid foods.

  • Besides being budget-friendly and easy to make, buttered noodles are delicious.
  • Get creative with these versatile noodles – add your choice of herbs and seasoning to match your tastes or your meal.
  • Kid-approved! Even little picky eaters ask for seconds
  • Ideal as a really simple main dish with some protien or a side in place of mashed potatoes.
  • They’re the perfect companion to a variety of entrees, like grilled chicken, beef, or fish.

Ingredients in Buttered Noodles

Egg Noodles: These bite-sized, sturdy noodles are perfect for this side and hold up well to sauces and gravy too. If you don’t have egg noodles on hand, medium-sized shells, bow-tie pasta, or small penne work too.

Butter: For this recipe, stick with butter rather than olive oil, as it adds the best flavor. If you need a dairy-free option, choose a flavorful alternative like dairy-free butter.

Cheese: Parmesan cheese is optional and depending on what I serve these with, I sometimes add it and sometimes skip it. Either fresh parm or grated parm is great with buttered noodles.

Seasonings: This is where you can let your culinary creativity shine! Add fresh herbs and spices like basil, parsley, or thyme. To suit the dish you’re serving it with, consider stirring in some cheese sauce, pesto, or smother them with gravy.

ingredients to make Buttered Noodles

How to Make Buttered Noodles

  1. Cook egg noodles in water and drain (do not rinse).
  2. Add the butter to the pot and stir in the noodles and a little pasta water (optional).
  3. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and garnish with a little parsley for color. Serve hot.

PRO TIP: Reserve a little pasta water to adjust the consistency.

Leftovers?

Keep leftover buttered noodles in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Add leftovers to a savory pasta e fagioli soup, or a deliciously filling turkey casserole. Or simply reheat them on the stove or in the microwave with a little water to loosen the noodles! This isn’t a good dish for freezing since the noodles will get soft after thawing, but it’s so easy to make, just start fresh!

Easy Pasta Recipes

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Buttered Noodles

This Buttered Noodles recipe is super easy to make with simple ingredients!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4

Equipment

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Ingredients  

  • 8 ounces egg noodles measured dry
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • teaspoon black pepper or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon shredded Parmesan cheese optional
  • salt to taste

Instructions 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the egg noodles, reduce the heat to a low boil, and cook the pasta al dente according to the package directions.
  • Before draining the pasta, reserve ¼ cup of pasta water. Drain the pasta well, but do not rinse.
  • Place the pot back on the stove over medium heat and melt the butter and garlic powder.
  • Stir the cooked noodles, parsley, parmesan cheese if using, and pepper. Toss to coat and season with additional salt if desired. Stir in a tablespoon or two of pasta water can be added to reach desired consistency.

Notes

Don’t rinse the pasta or the butter won’t stick as well.
Depending on what you are serving this side with, you can add more parmesan cheese to taste.
5 from 26 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 298 | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 101mg | Potassium: 143mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 310IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dinner, Pasta
Cuisine American
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close up of Buttered Noodles
Buttered Noodles in a bowl with garnish and a title
Buttered Noodles in the pan with writing

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. I’ve made these for years when our boys were small. They loved them. So easy. One of my daughter in laws makes them and adds a touch of garlic salt. So yummy.