Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe with Black Pepper and Pecorino

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 classic Roman pasta where al dente spaghetti is coated in a creamy sauce of Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly cracked black pepper. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 15 minutes, pairs spaghetti, Pecorino Romano cheese, black peppercorns for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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: 10 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 480 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and add 1 tbsp kosher salt. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8-9 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, toast 2 tsp whole black peppercorns in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes until fragrant, then crush coarsely using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder.
  3. Step 3: In the same skillet, melt 2 tbsp unsalted butter over medium heat. Add the crushed black pepper and cook for 30 seconds to infuse the butter with pepper aroma.
  4. Step 4: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet along with 1 cup reserved pasta water and 1 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese. Toss vigorously for 1-2 minutes until the cheese melts and creates a creamy sauce that evenly coats each strand.
  5. Step 5: Serve immediately, adding extra grated Pecorino and cracked black pepper to taste.

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