How to Make Homemade Pasta From Scratch (step-by-step guide)
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There’s something special about making homemade pasta from scratch. It’s simple, humble, and deeply nostalgic-the kind of recipe that brings everyone into the kitchen. Whether you are teaching little hands how to knead dough or enjoying a slow moment on your own, homemade pasta turns an ordinary day into something memorable. It’s easier that most people think, very forgiving, and the perfect place to begin if you are wanting to really start cooking from scratch.
In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to make homemade pasta from scratch step-by-step in a simple way and get delicious pasta every time!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- it’s only 3 simple ingredients
- ready in about an hour
- perfect for beginners
- easy for kids to jump in and help
- t/astes so much better than store-bought
Once you learn the basics of making homemade pasta from scratch, you can feed your family nourishing pasta that you feel good about serving and your family will be asking for more!
Ingredients for Homemade Pasta from scratch:
2 1/2 cups Flour (all purpose works just great, but you can also try different flours)
4 Eggs
3/4 tsp Salt (more or less to taste)
(yes it’s actually that simple!)
Equipment Needed:
- Mixing Bowl (some prefer the counter, I like to use a bowl)
- Pasta Machine-I will list options here, we use the pasta attachments for our kitchen aide mixer and highly recommend this!
- Kitchenaid pasta attachments (if you need a kitchenaid mixer, here is the one I have)
- Manual pasta machine
- Rolling pin and pasta cutter
- Plastic wrap (for refrigerating the dough)
- Big pot for boiling the pasta
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Make the Pasta Dough
In a bowl, or on the counter mix the eggs, flour, and salt, forming a shaggy dough.
2. Knead the dough until smooth
The dough will be very thick, so it will need to be kneaded by hand until it is smooth. This helps builds gluten and gives the pasta its signature chewy texture.
3. Let the dough rest
Cover the ball of dough with plastic wrap and let it rest in the fridge for 30 minutes, or overnight if you are making your dough up a day early.
4. Divide and roll out the dough
Remove your dough from the plastic wrap and cut into 4 equal pieces. You can do this right out of the fridge or let it warm up a bit so it’s easier to roll out. If you using a pasta machine, follow the next steps that is labeled “rolling and cutting using a pasta machine” and if you are rolling and cutting by hand (or with a manual crank cutter), skip to the second option that is labeled “rolling and cutting by hand.”
-Rolling and cutting using a pasta machine (easiest, preferred method)
If you are using the pasta attachment with the kitchenaid, attach the sheet roller attachment, which is the one that just flattens the dough without cutting it.
Work each piece into a round ball and slightly roll out into an oval about 1/2-1 inch thick, making sure they are floured on the outside.
Using the sheet roller attachment on your Kitchenaid, roll the dough through on level 1, keep running the same sheet of dough through, moving your way up to a 4 or 5. Each level will get your dough a little bit thinner.
Do this with each dough piece and lay each one on a flat FLOURED surface when you are done.
*please note that flour will be your friend when handling this dough!*
After you have done them all, sprinkle and rub flour on both sides to prevent them from sticking to the machine when you cut them (mom tip-this is a GREAT job for a toddler or small child as you can’t really over-flour. Any extra flour will just fall off and not hurt the noodle)
If you are using your pasta attachments on the kitchenaid, choose the type of noodle you want to cut (spaghetti, or fettuccini) and attach it to the kitchenaid machine.
Turn the machine on and run each sheet of pasta dough though to cut the noodles.
Once they come out of the machine, you can either hang the noodles on a noodle rack, lay them flat and long on the counter, or our favorite is to curl them loosely around into a circular shape like you see in the photo below.
-Rolling and cutting by hand (or with a manual crank cutter)
Generously cover each piece with flour and roll out very thin and to your desired length. I recommend letting the dough get to room temp for this option to make it easier to roll.
After you roll it out, use your dough cutter to cut the dough into thin strips of your desired width. I still recommend having plenty of flour on the counter and dough to prevent it from sticking to the counter or to your cutting tool.
You can also use a manual cutting machine to help cut the dough after you roll it out by hand. This machine is linked here and will help you get evenly cut pasta noodles in a more efficient way than cutting by hand.
5. Cook the fresh pasta
Fresh Pasta cooks in 2-5 minutes, depending on its thickness.
Boil a large pot of water. Add salt to the water if desired. When it comes to a boil, add the pasta noodles in gently and cook for 2-5 minutes or until cooked through.
Strain the water from the pot and toss the noodles gently with a dash of olive oil to prevent them sticking together.
6. Top with your favorite sauce and enjoy!
Coming soon, will be a pasta sauce recipe, so check back on the blog for that and follow me on social media to be updated when these recipes release on the blog!
If you want to learn how to make your own sourdough bread, check out my sourdough starter recipe!
Homemade Pasta Noodles From Scratch
Ingredients
Method
- In a bowl, or on the counter mix the eggs, flour, and salt, forming a shaggy dough.
- The dough will be very thick, so it will need to be kneaded by hand until it is smooth. This helps builds gluten and gives the pasta its signature chewy texture.
- Cover the ball of dough with plastic wrap and let it rest in the fridge for 30 minutes, or overnight if you are making your dough up a day early.
- Remove your dough from the plastic wrap and cut into 4 equal pieces. You can do this right out of the fridge or let it warm up a bit so it’s easier to roll out. If you using a pasta machine, follow the next steps that is labeled “using a pasta machine” and if you are rolling and cutting by hand (or with a manual crank cutter), skip to the second option that is labeled “rolling and cutting by hand.”
- If you are using the pasta attachment with the kitchen aide, attach the sheet roller attachment, which is the one that just flattens the dough without cutting it.
- Work each piece into a round ball and slightly roll out into an oval about 1/2-1 inch thick, making sure they are floured on the outside.
- Using the sheet roller attachment on your Kitchenaid, roll the dough through on level 1, keep doing this moving your way up to a 4 or 5. Each level will get your dough a little bit thinner.
- Do this with each dough piece and lay each one on a flat FLOURED surface when you are done.
- *please note that flour will be your friend when handling this dough!*
- After you have done them all, sprinkle and rub flour on both sides to prevent them from sticking to the machine when you cut them (mom tip-this is a GREAT job for a toddler or small child as you can’t really over flour. Any extra flour will just fall off and not hurt the noodle)
- If you are using your pasta attachments on the kitchen aide, choose the type of noodle you want to cut (spaghetti, or fettuccini) and attach it to the kitchen aide machine.
- Turn the machine on and run each sheet of pasta dough though to cut the noodles.
- Once they come out of the machine, you can either hang the noodles on a noodle rack, lay them flat and long on the counter, or our favorite is to curl them loosely around into a circular shape like you see in the photo below.
- Generously cover each piece with flour and roll out very thin and to your desired length. I recommend letting the dough get to room temp for this option to make it easier to roll.
- After you roll it out, use your dough cutter to cut the dough into thin strips of your desired width. I still recommend having plenty of flour on the counter and dough to prevent it from sticking to the counter or to your cutting tool.
- You can also use a manual cutting machine to help cut the dough after you roll it out by hand. This machine is linked here and will help you get evenly cut pasta noodles in a more efficient way than cutting by hand.
- Fresh Pasta cooks in 2-5 minutes, depending on its thickness.
- Boil a large pot of water. Add salt to the water if desired. When it comes to a boil, add the pasta noodles in gently and cook for 2-5 minutes or until cooked through.
- Strain the water from the pot and toss the noodles gently with a dash of olive oil to prevent them sticking together.
- Top with your favorite sauce and enjoy!
