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    Framed Cooks ยป Recipes ยป Pasta and Pizza

    Walnut Pasta

    Published: Dec 12, 2022 ยท Modified: Oct 28, 2024 by Kate Morgan Jackson ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Butter, nuts and parmesan cheese team up to make a fast and easy pasta sauce in this simple recipe for walnut pasta!

    Brown butter walnut pasta on a plate with a fork.
    Jump to:
    • Why we love this recipe
    • Ingredients you need
    • Ingredient notes and substitutions
    • How to make this recipe
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Want to round out your meal?
    • Other easy pasta recipes we love
    • Could you leave us a review?
    • Brown Butter Walnut Pasta

    Why we love this recipe

    This is one of those simple simple simple recipes that I make when I don’t want to give more than two seconds thought to dinner.  

    I always have the ingredients, it is ready in two shakes, it couldn’t be easier to make, and most importantly, it tastes like HEAVEN.  

    The heaven part is due to the miracle of brown butter, which is butter that has been lovingly melted on the stove until it turns, yes, brown.  

    Brown butter has a nutty taste that is indescribably delicious, so I won’t even try…but it did give me the idea of adding some nuts to this pasta dish.  

    Walnuts spilling out of a jar.

    And just when I thought pasta heaven couldn’t get any more heavenly…it did.

    Ingredients you need

    Ingredients for walnut pasta on a wooden counter.

    Ingredient notes and substitutions

    • Pasta: We like a long pasta like linguine for this recipe, but it will work with whatever you have on hand.
    • Butter: Use the best kind you can get! This Irish girl loves Kerrygold Salted Butter.
    • Walnuts: You can use either halves or chopped walnuts. Or if you like pecans or almonds or macadamia nuts better, swap them in.
    • Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated if you can!
    • Black Pepper: Also freshly grated if you can!

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.

    How to make this recipe

    Cooked pasta draining in a colander.

    STEP 1: Cook your pasta in heavily salted water according to the package directions. Scoop out 1/2 cup of the magical pasta water before you drain it and set it aside.

    Brown butter in a skillet.

    STEP 2: While the pasta is cooking, melt four tablespoons butter in a deep skillet over medium heat. Stir it until it turns brown. As soon as that happens, take it off the heat.

    Pasta with brown butter walnut sauce in a skillet.

    STEP 3: Add the drained pasta, some grated Parmesan cheese and some walnuts to the skillet with the butter. Toss everything with tongs until well combined, drizzling in just enough pasta water to make a light sauce.

    PRO TIP: You can add baby spinach and/or cooked shredded chicken to this dish to make it a full one dish supper. Add the baby spinach to the pasta right before you drain it and give it a stir until it’s wilted. Cooked chicken can get stirred in right at the end.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is so special about the pasta water?

    When pasta cooks, it releases starch into the water (that is what makes it a little cloudy. And since hopefully you have thoroughly salted your water, at the end of the pasta cooking time you have a starchy, salty water that is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for making or loosening up a light pasta sauce. It’s truly magical.

    What kind of walnuts should I use for this recipe?

    You can use either walnut halves or chopped walnuts. You can usually find both in the baking aisle near the chocolate chips, or if your store has a bulk foods section, you can get just the amount you need from there.

    Can I add some protein or veggies to this recipe?

    You can! I have tossed in both cooked shredded chicken and cooked shrimp when I add the cheese and the walnuts. And if you want to add some veggies, add a 6 ounce bag (or more!) of baby spinach to the pasta pot a minute or two before the pasta is done.

    Have a question that I didn’t cover?

    Pop your question in the comments and I will answer pronto!

    Plate of brown butter walnut pasta

    I highly recommend serving it on warmed plates, because it keeps the pasta nice and hot throughout your meal, and because warmed plates always feel like the height of coziness to me.  

    Want to round out your meal?

    We love to add some veggies on the side of this pasta. Sometimes some creamy whipped carrots, or some roasted green beans.

    And a cinnamon sugar snack cake is the perfect end to this easy supper.

    Other easy pasta recipes we love

    • Pasta with Anchovy Sauce in a skillet.
      Pasta with Anchovy Sauce
    • Lemon parmesan spinach pasta in a bowl.
      Lemon Spinach Pasta
    • Pasta with Buttered Sour Cream and Bacon on a plate.
      Pasta with Sour Cream Sauce
    • Pasta with Clam Marinara Sauce in a bowl with a fork.
      Pasta with Clam Marinara Sauce

    Looking for more pasta inspiration? Here’s our complete collection of pasta (and pizza!) recipes.

    Go make yourself and someone you love some pasta with walnut sauce now. Heaven!

    Could you leave us a review?

    If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.

    Print

    Brown Butter Walnut Pasta

    Brown butter walnut pasta on a plate with a fork.
    Print Recipe
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    5 from 1 review

    Butter, nuts and parmesan cheese team up to make a fast and easy pasta sauce in this simple recipe for brown butter walnut pasta!

    • Author: Kate Morgan Jackson
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 4
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Italian
    • Diet: Vegetarian

    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 8 ounces linguine or spaghetti
    • 4 tablespoons butter
    • 1/2 cup walnut halves
    • 1/2 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese
    • Freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions

    1. Cook pasta in heavily salted water according to package directions. Scoop out 1/2 cup pasta water before you drain it and set aside.
    2. While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a deep skillet over medium heat. Stir it until it turns brown. As soon as that happens, take it off the heat.
    3. Add the drained pasta, the cheese and the walnuts to the skillet with the butter. Toss everything with tongs until well combined, drizzling in just enough pasta water to make a light sauce.
    4. Serve on warmed plates with a generous grinding of black pepper.

    Notes

    Pasta: We love a nice long pasta like linguine or spaghetti, but this recipe will work with whatever pasta you have on hand.

    Butter: Salted butter works best for this recipe.

    Parmesan Cheese: Fresh grated parmesan cheese is the best, but you can also use fresh pre-grated parmesan cheese.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag @FramedCooks on Facebook or Instagram…we want to see it!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sally says

      February 03, 2024 at 11:07 am

      This is so simple yet makes such a unique sauce. So tasty!

      Reply
      • Kate Morgan Jackson says

        February 06, 2024 at 2:19 pm

        It’s amazing what anchovies can do, right? :)

        Reply
        • ANTHONY CAPO says

          July 04, 2024 at 9:26 pm

          mmm

          Reply
          • Kate Morgan Jackson says

            July 05, 2024 at 12:44 pm

            I’m thinking that is the sound of walnut pasta enjoyment! :)

            Reply

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    Kate from Framed Cooks

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