Easy Marmite Pasta Recipe

They say you either love it or hate it and I'm most definitely in the love it camp when it comes to marmite!

This super quick but oh-so-tasty easy marmite pasta recipe has a rich savoury flavour and is perfect for a simple mid-week dinner.

I've been making this marmite spaghetti long before Nigella Lawson made it a 'thing' and I've even managed to convert several marmite-hating friends to it.

I used to rustle it up all the time at University. It was quick, cheap, and ever so tasty, which is music to the ears of any student.

Now it's my kids who request this marmite pasta (at least once a week), and I'm more than happy to make it for them. Don't knock it until you try it, even the marmite haters amongst you!

👩‍🍳 Love easy pasta recipes? Try my easy cheesy pasta too!

Jump to:

• ✔️ Why should you try it?
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🥄 Equipment
• 🔪 Instructions
• 💭 Top tips
• 🍴 Serving suggestions
• 📖 Variations
• 🥡 Storage
• ❓ FAQS
• 😋Related recipes
• Recipe
• 💬 Comments

✔️ Why should you try it?

• Quick and easy pasta recipe.
• Cheap and frugal to make.
• Perfect for kids and students.
• Marmite is packed full of vitamins and minerals.

🥘 Ingredients

• Marmite - one teaspoon is all you need! You could also substitute marmite for vegemite or a supermarket branded yeast extract.
• Butter - use unsalted butter as marmite is already quite salty.
• Garlic - chopped very finely.
• Parmesan - grana padano would also work well and is a lot cheaper.
• Spaghetti - or whatever pasta you have in the cupboard.
• Black Pepper.

🥄 Equipment

• Heavy bottom pan (for making the buttery marmite sauce)
• Large saucepan (for boiling the spaghetti)
• Sharp knife
• Chopping Board

🔪 Instructions

The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

One: Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta to al dente. Whilst the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a pan over a medium heat and cook the garlic for a few minutes to soften.

Two: Add in the marmite (I use 1 teaspoon) and stir to combine.

Three: Drain the pasta, but reserve 3 tablespoon of the starchy pasta cooking water. Stir the pasta through the buttery marmite mixture and add in the reserved pasta water to make a glossy smooth sauce.

Four: Sprinkle in the grated Parmesan and stir to combine. Serve with a grinding of black pepper and more Parmesan.

💭 Top tips

• Use unsalted butter as marmite and cheese are both quite salty.
• Adding a little of the starchy pasta water gives the sauce a lovely glossiness. This isn't a step to skip!
• I find it's best to use long pasta like spaghetti or linguine for this dish, as the silky sauce clings to each strand. But any shape pasta would work.

🍴 Serving suggestions

The marmite spaghetti is great just as it is, but when I want something more substantial I serve it with pesto focaccia and a crisp green salad.

📖 Variations

• Why not try adding some bacon or sliced chorizo sausage (at the same time as the garlic)?
• A handful of frozen peas or sweetcorn could be added to the boiling pasta water a few minutes before draining.
• Be bold and sprinkle with crumbled blue cheese instead of parmesan (stilton would work well because of its texture).

🥡 Storage

Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheat: Place in a microwaveable bowl and reheat in the microwave until piping hot.

❓ FAQS

😋Related recipes

Some more tasty pasta recipes for you to try!

• Chorizo Mac and Cheese - add smoky chorizo to your mac and cheese, for a Spanish style twist on this family favourite pasta dish. 
• Creamy Boursin Pasta - quick and oh so tasty, this luxurious Creamy Boursin Pasta with smoked bacon is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!
• Halloumi Pasta - Halloumi and chorizo are fried until golden and mixed with a smoky tomato sauce and penne pasta in this family-friendly dish.
• One Pan Chicken Penne Arrabbiata - this delicious and (mildly) fiery chicken penne arrabbiata is cooked in one pan. That’s right, no need to boil your pasta separately as it cooks in the arrabbiata sauce!
• Creamy Pumpkin and Bacon Penne - roasted pumpkin, garlic, and rosemary get whizzed up in a food processor with cooked smoky bacon, cream, Parmesan and mustard to make the most luxurious smooth pasta sauce you will ever taste!
• Easy Cheesy Pasta - deliciously comforting easy cheesy pasta using a cheat’s crème fraiche cheese sauce pepped up with smoked paprika and Dijon mustard. 

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Recipe