Simple Buttered Noodles

Name: Simple Buttered Noodles with Chicken Nuggets
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: water, for boiling; salt, for pasta water; 8 oz orzo pasta; 8 oz rigatoni pasta; 4 oz elbow macaroni; 4 oz spaghetti; 1/2 cup butter; garlic salt, to taste; freshly shaved Parmesan cheese, to taste; 1 bag frozen dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets

Simple buttered noodles combine orzo, rigatoni, elbow macaroni, and spaghetti tossed with butter, garlic salt, and Parmesan for a humorous, practical weeknight meal that uses up pantry pasta and pairs perfectly with frozen chicken nuggets.

🌍American 🏷️Buttered noodles 🏷️Pasta 🏷️Kid-friendly 🏷️Weeknight dinner Easy recipe

🏷️

🏷️Comfort food

-0:00

applesauceandadhdonTikTok

Total

20 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$20–$33

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by applesauceandadhd

-0:00

applesauceandadhdonTikTok

Ingredients

water, for boiling
salt, for pasta water
8 oz orzo pasta
8 oz rigatoni pasta
4 oz elbow macaroni
4 oz spaghetti
1/2 cup butter
garlic salt, to taste
freshly shaved Parmesan cheese, to taste
1 bag frozen dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggetsoptional

10 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.
2
Generously salt the boiling water. The creator advises making it 'salty like the sea'.
3
Add your assortment of pasta to the boiling water. The creator uses a mix of orzo, rigatoni, elbow macaroni, and broken spaghetti to clear out her pantry.
4
While the pasta is cooking, bake the chicken nuggets on a baking sheet according to package directions.
5
Cook the pasta until al dente, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
6
Drain the cooked pasta.
7
Return the drained pasta to the hot pot. Add the butter and stir continuously until it's completely melted and the noodles are well-coated.
8
Season the buttered noodles with garlic salt and freshly shaved Parmesan cheese to your liking.
9
Serve the buttered noodles immediately, alongside the baked chicken nuggets.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Salt your pasta water generously—it's your only chance to season the noodles before the butter and cheese go in.
Toss the hot drained pasta with butter immediately so it coats evenly and doesn't clump.
Grate or shave the Parmesan fresh over warm noodles for better flavor and texture than pre-grated.
Use garlic salt sparingly at first, then taste and adjust—it's easier to add more than remove the saltiness.

Substitutions

Butter → olive oil or margarine (note: changes richness and flavor profile)
Parmesan → pecorino Romano (note: sharper and saltier taste)
Garlic salt → garlic powder plus kosher salt to taste (note: allows separate control of garlic and salt levels)

Storage & make-ahead

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days; reheat gently in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water or butter to restore creaminess.