How to Make Easy Cacio e Pepe - A Step-by-Step Guide

Picture this: it's a busy weeknight and you're craving a comforting, delicious meal. You want something that's easy to make, but still has that wow factor. Look no further than our easy Cacio e Pepe recipe. This classic Italian dish is simple yet flavorful, and is sure to become a staple in your dinner rotation.

Cacio e Pepe, which translates to "cheese and pepper" in Italian, is a traditional pasta dish that hails from Rome. It's made with just a few simple ingredients, but the resul...

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Ingredients

  • ½ (16 ounce) package bucatini pasta
  • 1 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, or as needed
  • 3 teaspoons toasted black pepper, or more to taste
  • ½ cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 30 mins
  • Servings: 2
  • Yield: 2 servings

  • Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook bucatini pasta in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until almost tender yet still firm to the bite, 8 to 9 minutes; they will not be fully cooked. Drain, reserving about 2 cups of pasta cooking water. Set pasta aside.
  • Combine Pecorino Romano cheese and 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of pasta water and stir into a thick paste.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat; swirl to coat the bottom. Add cheese paste and a ladle of pasta water; whisk vigorously to combine. Keep whisking quickly and vigorously to make sure the cheese does not clump, about 30 seconds. Add cooked pasta and black pepper. Keep tossing skillet contents continuously until cheese has coated the pasta evenly and bucatini are cooked al dente, about 2 minutes. Add more water or cheese if the pasta sauce appears too thin or thick.
  • Serve immediately topped with shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and more black pepper.
  • Nutrition

    887 cal.

    • Total Fat: 36g
    • Saturated Fat: 18g
    • Cholesterol: 97mg
    • Sodium: 1335mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 90g
    • Dietary Fiber: 4g
    • Total Sugars: 1g
    • Protein: 49g
    • Vitamin C: 1mg
    • Calcium: 1111mg
    • Iron: 6mg
    • Potassium: 322mg