Martha Stewart’s 4-Ingredient “Lazy Girl” Pasta Makes Her More Relatable Than Ever

Martha Stewart might be the furthest thing from a “lazy girl.” She’s an author, TV personality, restauranteur, entertaining icon, and lest we not forget, Sports Illustrated cover model. She does it all—with a Meyer Lemon Drop cocktail in hand.

So, when I saw Stewart had shared a recipe for her go-to “lazy girl” dinner, I could hardly believe it. For a woman whose name is practically synonymous with “homemaker extraordinaire,” she’s not someone I’d expect to cut corners or settle for a less-than-stellar meal.

But as it turns out, even the culinary queen has days when she doesn't feel like being "Martha Stewart," and that’s when she turns to an easy, four-ingredient favorite.

Martha Stewart’s Favorite 4-Ingredient Pasta

In a recent interview with Business Insider, Stewart shared the simple dinner she makes when she doesn’t feel like cooking something elaborate. But, her quote-unquote “lazy girl” dinner is far from a bowl of Cup Noodles (as it might be for the rest of us). Instead, Stewart effortlessly recreates an Italian classic: Cacio e pepe.

"The easiest thing to make good is a really good pasta, it's so easy to not mess that up," Stewart said. "You can just do a Cacio e pepe—just pepper, butter, and Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, that is the best pasta."

This four-ingredient dinner doesn’t use a mind-blowing ingredient hack or store-bought time-saver. It’s just a simple combination of delicious, top-quality ingredients, and it takes almost no time or effort to prepare. So, basically, even Stewart’s low level is high level. Who’s surprised?

I wouldn’t go as far as to say “stars—they’re just like us” when it comes to Martha Stewart, but I will say I found immense comfort in the image of Stewart as a “lazy girl,” even if she is whipping up her restaurant-quality pasta dish in a pressed pj set instead of sweats.

How to Make Martha Stewart’s “Lazy Girl” Pasta

Cacio e pepe is a beloved Italian basic that takes just 20 minutes to prepare. Stewart’s version doesn’t mention garlic, but we’d suggest tossing some minced cloves into the pan for even more flavor. 

To prepare this quick dish, cook spaghetti (or your long pasta of choice) in salted boiling water as usual, but before draining, reserve a cup of the cooking water.

In a large skillet, heat olive oil (or butter) over medium heat, then stir in garlic and black pepper and cook until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cooked pasta and grated Pecorino Romano cheese, then ladle in 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Stir until the cheese is melted, then add more cooking water (just a tablespoon at a time) until the sauce is creamy and coats every noodle.

Finish it off with another crank of fresh black pepper, and your “lazy girl” dinner is served.