Take your Italian dinner to the next level with this Nonna-approved pasta trick that will transform your weeknight meal.

Whether you're a busy college student, a mom juggling little ones, or anyone in need of a quick meal, pasta with sauce is probably on your menu this week. It's a simple, affordable, and delicious choice that’s perfect for a last-minute dinner. So when TikToker @steelpan.guy shared his 'special Nonna hack' to make pasta taste even better, we were all in.

What makes this hack so brilliant is its simplicity: It uses two ingredients you’re already adding to your pasta— butter and grated cheese. But the key is in the timing. Instead of mixing the butter into the sauce and sprinkling cheese on top at the end, you add them directly to the hot, freshly cooked pasta before tossing with the sauce. This step helps the pasta hold onto the sauce better and enhances the flavor.

The Butter and Cheese Pasta Trick

This is just one of the many viral cooking tips that have popped up on TikTok, alongside hacks like freezing tomato paste, softening butter in seconds, and roasting chicken in a bundt pan.

Here’s how it works:

After cooking and draining your pasta, transfer it into a large bowl. Add a tablespoon or two of butter along with some grated Parmesan cheese. Using your serving spoon—or the one you used to stir your sauce—toss the pasta, butter, and cheese together. Once the butter has melted and the noodles are well-coated, you’re ready to add the sauce and toss everything together.

And here’s an essential tip from Italian moms and grandmothers: Always toss your pasta in a serving bowl, not in the pot, and make sure to mix it with the sauce before serving, not by spooning sauce onto individual plates.

Why the Butter and Cheese Trick Works

There’s real wisdom behind this simple-sounding Nonna hack: Hot pasta has a short window of time when it’s ideal for absorbing sauce. If it cools even a little after draining, the noodles start to stick together and the sauce won’t adhere properly. Tossing the pasta with butter and cheese acts as a safeguard. It provides a surface for the sauce to cling to, while keeping the noodles just slippery enough to prevent clumping. Plus, the pasta soaks up the butter and cheese, enhancing the flavor that would otherwise be lost.

When to Try the Butter and Cheese Pasta Trick

The beauty of this hack is its versatility— it works with any type of pasta, from rigatoni to rotini. While it’s especially great with red sauces, a pesto or cream sauce would work wonderfully too. Just be sure to toss the hot, drained pasta with the butter and cheese immediately. Buon appetito!