Brown Butter Mushroom Pasta Recipe
This Brown Butter Mushroom Pasta is a simple yet flavorful Italian-inspired dish featuring rigatoni tossed in a rich, nutty brown butter sauce with sautéed cremini mushrooms, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Perfectly cooked pasta is combined with browned butter and mushrooms for an indulgent and comforting meal that’s easy to make on the stovetop.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz Rigatoni pasta (or your favorite pasta)
Sauce
- 8 tablespoons salted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces
- 12 oz cremini or baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
For Serving
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Extra Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
- Brown the Butter and Cook Mushrooms: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and cook it, swirling occasionally, until it foams and develops a nutty aroma and golden-brown color, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are tender and browned, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add Garlic and Thyme: Stir in the chopped garlic and dried thyme, cooking for an additional 2 minutes until fragrant. Season the mixture with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet and pour in the reserved pasta water. Reduce the heat to low and stir in half of the Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce coats the pasta. Then add the remaining Parmesan cheese, stirring gently or using tongs to toss, preventing clumping. Check seasoning and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
- Serve: Transfer the pasta to serving plates or bowls. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, crushed red pepper flakes, and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to help the sauce adhere better to the pasta and add creaminess.
- Use fresh Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and melting quality.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to your spice preference or omit altogether.
- This dish can be made with other pasta shapes you prefer.
- Make sure to brown the butter carefully; it should be golden and nutty but not burnt.
- For a richer flavor, you can add a splash of white wine when cooking the mushrooms (optional).
Keywords: brown butter pasta, mushroom pasta, easy Italian pasta, creamy pasta recipe, rigatoni recipe
Find it online: https://tastybynova.com/brown-butter-mushroom-pasta-recipe/
