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Delicious Brown Butter Mushroom Pasta topped with fresh herbs and parmesan cheese.

Brown Butter Mushroom Pasta

A cozy, quick, and slightly fancy pasta dish featuring rich brown butter, deeply caramelized mushrooms, and a silky sauce that feels special for dinner while being easy to make.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 12 ounces 12 ounces pasta, like fettuccine, spaghetti, or rotini Use any preferred pasta
Sauce Components
  • 6 tablespoons 6 tablespoons unsalted butter Good quality butter is essential for flavor
  • 1 to 1.25 pounds 1 to 1.25 pounds mushrooms, sliced; cremini or baby bella work well, a mix is even better Use fresh mushrooms
  • 2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons olive oil For cooking the mushrooms
  • 3 to 4 cloves 3 to 4 cloves garlic, minced Add more for a stronger flavor
  • 1 unit 1 lemon, for juice and a little zest Use fresh lemon for best results
  • 3/4 cup 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano Freshly grated cheese melts better
  • 1/2 to 1 cup 1/2 to 1 cup reserved pasta water To create a silky sauce
  • to taste unit Salt and freshly ground black pepper Season to your preference
  • optional unit Red pepper flakes, optional Add for heat if desired
  • to taste unit Fresh parsley or chives, chopped For garnish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Cook your pasta until it’s al dente, scooping out a cup of starchy water before draining.
  3. In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat, stirring until it turns nutty and golden brown.
Cooking
  1. Slide the brown butter into a bowl to stop cooking and reserve the skillet.
  2. Add a bit of oil to the pan, then add sliced mushrooms in a single layer. Season with salt and let them sit until browned.
  3. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking until fragrant.
Saucing
  1. Pour the brown butter back into the skillet with the mushrooms. Add reserved pasta water and a squeeze of lemon.
  2. Stir in freshly grated cheese, mixing until a silky sauce forms.
Tossing
  1. Add the drained pasta to the skillet, tossing until evenly coated and glossy. If it feels tight, add more pasta water as needed.
  2. Taste and adjust with salt, black pepper, and garnish with chopped parsley or chives.
Serving
  1. Serve warm, appreciating the aroma and flavors.

Notes

Consider serving with a simple green salad or garlic bread. This meal pairs well with light, fresh sides to balance the richness of the pasta.