Trader Joe's Cacio e Pepe Recipe
This Trader Joe's cacio e pepe copycat recipe features cooked pasta tossed in a creamy parmesan or Romano cheese sauce with pepper. With just 4 ingredients and ready in 15 minutes, this simple sauce tastes better than the jarred sauce from TJ's!
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Large Pan
Ingredients
- 8 ounces dry pasta save cooking water
- 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
- 1 cup Romano cheese or parmesan, plus extra for garnish
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook pasta according to package instructions. Once finished cooking, remove from heat and leave in the cooking water for a few minutes (save the water, as it will be used to thicken the sauce).
- Step 2: In a pan, add the butter over low heat until melted.
- Step 3: Using a slotted spoon, drain the pasta and add into the pan with the butter. Toss well to combine.
- Step 4: Pour 2/3 cup of the pasta cooking water into the pan. Add the parmesan cheese. Stir well, the sauce will thicken as it cooks. If sauce is too thick, add an additional 2 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water at a time to thin out the sauce.
- Step 5: Once sauce has reached the desired thickness, add in the black pepper.
- Step 6: Serve the rigatoni hot, topping with an extra sprinkle of parmesan cheese and fresh cracked black pepper.
Notes
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- For a thinner sauce, you can more pasta cooking water, 1/4 cup at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Add in protein or sauteed vegetables for extra flavor. Wilted spinach, sauteed mushrooms, or roasted red peppers would be great additions.
Nutrition
Calories: 359kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 15gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 349mgPotassium: 156mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 281IUCalcium: 282mgIron: 1mg
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