Bucatini Cacio e Pepe with Black Pepper Cream

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A rich, peppery Roman pasta dish featuring bucatini tossed in a luscious Pecorino and black pepper cream sauce. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs bucatini pasta, extra virgin olive oil, freshly ground black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 520 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water with 1 tbsp kosher salt to a boil. Add 12 oz bucatini and cook for 9-10 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water and drain.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper and toast for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Reduce heat to low, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 1/2 cup heavy cream to the skillet, stirring until the butter melts and the mixture is hot but not boiling.
  4. Step 4: Add the drained bucatini to the skillet along with 1 1/4 cups grated Pecorino Romano cheese, tossing quickly to coat the pasta. Add reserved pasta water 1/4 cup at a time as needed to create a creamy sauce that clings to the pasta.
  5. Step 5: Season with 1 tbsp kosher salt to taste, toss for 1 minute until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Serve immediately with extra Pecorino if desired.

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