Creamy Cacio e Pepe Pasta Recipe Easy 3 Ingredient Dinner Idea
A quick and easy classic Italian pasta dish made with just three ingredients: pasta, pecorino romano cheese, and freshly cracked black pepper, creating a creamy and peppery sauce without any cream or butter.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces (225 grams) spaghetti or bucatini pasta
- 1 cup (100 grams) finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper (or more to taste)
Instructions
- Bring about 4 quarts (3.8 liters) of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 8 ounces (225 grams) of spaghetti and cook until just shy of al dente—about 8 minutes (check package instructions).
- Before draining, scoop out about 1 cup (240 ml) of pasta cooking water and set aside. Drain the pasta in a colander but don’t rinse.
- Toast 2 teaspoons of whole black peppercorns in a dry pan over medium heat for about 1-2 minutes, shaking frequently until fragrant. Then, crack the toasted pepper coarsely with a mortar and pestle or the bottom of a heavy pan.
- In a large bowl or warm skillet, mix the finely grated 1 cup (100 grams) pecorino romano with the cracked black pepper.
- Add a few tablespoons of the reserved hot pasta water to the cheese and pepper mixture and stir vigorously to create a creamy paste. Add more pasta water as needed to loosen it, but it should remain thick and silky.
- Add the hot drained pasta to the bowl/skillet with the sauce. Using tongs or a wooden spoon, toss quickly and continuously to coat each strand. Add a splash more pasta water if needed to achieve a luscious clingy texture.
- Serve immediately with an extra dusting of pecorino and black pepper on top.
Notes
Use freshly grated pecorino cheese for smooth melting. Toast peppercorns to enhance flavor. Reserve enough pasta water to create a silky sauce. Toss pasta quickly to prevent clumping. Serve immediately as the sauce thickens when cooled. For gluten-free option, use gluten-free pasta. Parmesan cheese can be substituted but will be milder. Vegan adaptation possible with nutritional yeast and black salt.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup per serv
- Calories: 400450
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1820
Keywords: cacio e pepe, creamy pasta, easy dinner, 3 ingredient recipe, Italian pasta, pecorino romano, black pepper pasta