brown butter pasta with white beans and parmesan

Buttered pasta is one of life’s simple pleasures. Browning the butter lends it a nutty flavor, adding white beans ups the protein and makes it more nutritious. This is perfect for when you’re pressed for time and want something on the table ASAP!

ingredients

• Linguine is perfect for this, because the pasta has enough surface area for the sauce to cling to. You could use spaghetti or bucatini or whatever pasta you have on hand, but a longer noodle is going to work best. Try to stay away from penne, elbow macaroni, or rotini.
• We use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt in this dish. It can get really salty, really fast. If you only have salted butter, that’s fine to use! Just taste before you add salt.
• Dried sage adds a little more nuance to the flavors of this dish. It pairs perfectly with brown butter.
• Parmesan is used in the sauce and grated over the top. There can never be enough Parmesan!

how to make brown butter pasta with white beans and parmesan

step one

First, boil the pasta until it’s al dente. Follow the package instructions.

step two

While the pasta is boiling, make the sauce. It’s a super simple sauce! Add the butter to a large skillet, and cook it until it’s brown and smells nutty. Once the butter is browned, add the sage and beans, then turn the heat to low, stirring occasionally.

step three

Once the pasta is al dente, add it to the skillet with some pasta water and Parmesan. Turn the heat to medium, mix everything together, and cook until the pasta is coated in the sauce. The sauce should be slightly creamy and clinging to the noodles. The beans may be a bit mashed. That’s perfect! They add creaminess to the dish. Taste and add salt if needed.

step four

Serve the pasta with grated Parmesan on top. I like to eat it with a simple salad and garlic bread.

tasting notes

1. I used dried sage to add a little more complexity to the dish. Use fresh sage if you have it!
2. This is best eaten fresh. If you do have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for a few days. Add some pasta water, cream, or milk when reheating to add some moisture. The noodles will be dry!

brown butter pasta with white beans and parmesan

This is the grown-up version of the buttered noodles you might have eaten as a kid. Brown butter adds a nutty flavor, while Parmesan brings a savory note. Beans make it a little more nutritious and add pops of creamy texture throughout the pasta. This meal comes together with only 5 ingredients and 15 minutes, making it great for those nights when you simply can’t be bothered to cook.

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Total Time 15 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Servings 2 people

Ingredients

  

• 8 ounces dried linguini half of a one-pound package
• 4 tablespoons butter unsalted
• 1 can white beans drained and rinsed
• 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
• 1/4 cup Parmesan grated, plus more for serving
• 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
• Salt to taste

Instructions

 

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and boil until it’s al dente following the package directions, typically 6-7 minutes.
• While the pasta is boiling, brown the butter. Add the butter to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until melted and brown and nutty, about 3-4 minutes. Once the butter is browned, add the sage and beans and turn heat to low, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is done.
• Once the pasta is done, add it to the skillet with 1/4 cup pasta water and Parmesan. Turn the heat to medium and mix everything together. Cook until the pasta is coated in the sauce. It should be slightly creamy. If any beans have fallen apart, that’s okay — it adds creaminess. Taste and add salt if needed. Serve with more Parmesan. Enjoy!

Notes

1. I used dried sage to add a little more complexity to the dish. Use fresh sage if you have it!
2. This is best eaten fresh. If you do have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for a few days. Add some pasta water, cream, or milk when reheating to add some moisture. The noodles will be dry!

Keyword beans, brown butter, brown butter pasta with beans, pantry meal, pasta, quick