How to Make Homemade Pasta Recipe
Fresh, homemade pasta is the best! It's simple to make by hand or using a pasta roller, and only requires two ingredients!
How to Make the Best How to Make Homemade Pasta
Making fresh pasta from scratch is one of those kitchen skills that sounds intimidating but is surprisingly simple and rewarding. With just two basic ingredients—flour and eggs—you can create delicious homemade pasta that tastes infinitely better than the boxed varieties.
This recipe walks you through multiple methods for making pasta dough, whether you prefer the traditional hands-on approach of making a flour well or want to use modern kitchen equipment like a stand mixer. The beauty of homemade pasta is that it’s flexible—you can roll it thin for delicate sheets or cut it into ribbons and strands for classic Italian pasta shapes.
Fresh homemade pasta cooks remarkably quickly (just 2-4 minutes in boiling water) and becomes tender and slightly chewy with that tender bite you can’t get from dried pasta. Once you master this basic dough, you’ll find yourself making it regularly for special dinners and weeknight meals alike.
How to Make Homemade Pasta
Fresh, homemade pasta is the best! It's simple to make by hand or using a pasta roller, and only requires two ingredients!
Ingredients
Dough
Instructions
Making the dough by hand
- Mound the flour on a clean work surface and create a well in the center.
- Crack the eggs into the well and gently beat with a fork, similar to making scrambled eggs.
- Begin incorporating flour from the edges of the well into the eggs.
- Once the mixture becomes too thick to work with a fork, use your hands to bring it all together.
- Knead for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Making the dough in a stand mixer
- Add flour and eggs to the mixer bowl with the dough hook attachment.
- Mix on low speed until the dough comes together.
- Increase to medium speed and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Rolling the pasta dough
- Divide the dough into 4 equal portions and shape each into a flat disk.
- Using a pasta roller or rolling pin, roll out each disk to desired thickness.
- Cut into desired pasta shapes (fettuccine, pappardelle, lasagna sheets, etc.).
- Dust with flour to prevent sticking.
Cooking the pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- Add the fresh pasta and cook for 2-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pasta is done when it floats to the top and tastes al dente.
- Reserve pasta water before draining for sauce preparation.
Storing homemade pasta
- Fresh pasta can be cooked immediately or stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For longer storage, dust with flour and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Cook frozen pasta directly from the freezer, adding 1-2 extra minutes to cooking time.