Cafeteria Noodles (Viral TikTok Recipe) (2024)

These saucy cafeteria noodles are the latest viral TikTok recipe to be taking the internet by storm- and for good reason. Basically fancy buttered noodles, they’re absolutely delicious and make a perfect quick and easy 20 minute meal. This Southern delicacy can be served for a one pot lunch or dinner.

Did you grow up eating buttered noodles like I did?

They were a time honored tradition where I grew up.

A meal all the kids greedily devoured with zero complaints, never realizing it was a lazy meal our parents made for a quick meal when they had zero desire to cook. But you know, had to still keep us fed and alive.

Well in the years since I was a kid, buttered noodles have evolved into something just as easy but a little bit saucier.

These cafeteria noodles have gone viral all over TikTok and the internet as a whole, and for a pretty good reason.

They’re delicious! And an easy one pot meal kids are happily eating AND requesting over & over again.

Ingredients Needed

This trendy take on buttered noodles is just as easy as the original, with an easy ingredient list.

To make it you’ll need:

• Egg Noodles – These wide noodles are the perfect thing to soak up and hold the delicious buttery sauce this recipe creates. You’ll need a 16 ounce bag, but you can use any width from medium to extra wide.
• Broth – This recipe uses chicken broth to cook the pasta in and infuse it with flavor. You can use store bought or homemade.
• Bouillon – Specifically a whole tablespoon the brand Better Than Bouillon’s chicken flavored base.
• Cream Of Chicken Soup – 2 small cans of condensed soup, any brand will work, or if you’re feeling extra you can make a batch of homemade condensed chicken soup to use.
• Butter – A whole stick of butter. Yes, you read that right. This is Southern cooking at it’s finest and basically fancy buttered noodles. Just like the broth, all that butter helps form the base of the sauce in this dish. Use salted or unsalted depending on personal preference.
• Pepper – Keeping things simple, some freshly cracked black pepper is the perfect thing to season these cafeteria style buttered noodles with; however, it’s also optional.

How To Make

There’s a reason these TikTok Cafeteria Noodles are trending and taking the internet by storm y’all.

The twenty-ish minute recipe is super simple to throw together and only requires a single pot to make.

Get started by adding four cups of chicken broth and the scoop of bouillon base to the bowl of a large pot set over high heat.

Bring the mixture to a rolling boil.

Once the broth has come to a clear boil, add the noodles and the remaining broth.

Add both cans of condensed soup, stirring in until completely incorporated.

Push the noodles down until mostly submerged under the liquid- it’s ok and expected that they aren’t all going to fit.

Bring the pot back to a rolling boil, and let it boil for 2 whole minutes. Set a timer if you have to, because sticking to just the two minutes is important.

When the two minutes are up, immediately remove the pot from heat.

Add the stick of butter to the noodles, give everything a good stir, and then add a lid to cover the pot.

Let the pot sit, covered, for 15-20 minutes while the noodles ‘steep’ in the liquid. Give the mixture a stir 2-3 times during this time, but no more, and recover the pot each time.

The sauce will start to thicken and come together as the pasta cooks and soaks up the liquid.

The noodles will be cooked and have soaked up most of the liquid when the time’s elapsed.

Season with freshly cracked black pepper, if desired, to taste.

I have found this recipe to be plenty salty enough, so never add any but you can if you wish. Taste first though to prevent over salting.

Ladle the finished cafeteria noodles into bowls and serve warm.

Can I Make Cafeteria Noodles In An Instant Pot Pressure Cooker?

Making these easy, buttery cafeteria noodles in an Instant Pot is just as easy as making them on the stove top.

Add the chicken broth, bouillon, butter, and noodles to the liner of your Instant pot.

Pour the condensed chicken soup on top, but do not stir.

Cover and close the pot, and set the vent valve to the sealed position.

Pressure cook for 1 minute, then let the pot rest undisturbed for 5 minutes.

Carefully perform a quick release by turning the vent valve to open and releasing the remaining pent up steam.

The steam will be hot- I recommend using the handle of a wooden spoon to open the valve.

Stir the noodles to combine.

Season with freshly cracked black pepper, to taste.

The sauce will continue to thicken as the noodles rest.

Storing

These saucy noodles are best enjoyed when freshly made, mostly because the longer pasta sits it’s going to continue to soak up the sauce.

Leftovers will still be delicious, but not as delightfully saucy.

Store leftover in an airtight container, and eat within 48 hours.

To reheat, add them to a pan on the stove with a bit of butter and broth. Stir over low heat until everything’s heated through and come together.

What To Serve Buttery Noodles With

I often serve these as a whole meal- something my kids readily devour.

They also double as an easy side dish to round out a quick dinner.

Some of our favorites to pair them with include:

• Instant Pot Ribs
• Smothered Chicken
• French Onion Pork Chops
• Crispy Oven Fried Chicken
• Country Fried Steak
• Sheet Pan Philly Cheesesteaks

You really can’t go wrong pairing these saucy buttered noodles with any meaty entree as a side dish!

Variations

• While our recipe calls for 2 cans of cream of chicken soup, you can use only 1 can. The taste will be the same, just less saucy. Similarly, you could substitute a large family sized can of condensed soup for creamier tiktok noodles.
• Want the same results but different flavor? Substitute cream of mushroom, cream of broccoli, or even condensed cheddar cheese soup for the cream of chicken- or mix & match!
• For a really flavorful meal, stir in an envelop of Lipton onion soup mix before serving.
• Add some steamed veggies- this is especially good if you decide to use a mixture of cream of chicken and condensed cheddar or all condensed cheddar and stir in steamed broccoli florets.
• Add a protein! Cooked ground beef, ground sausage, and ground turkey all taste great. So does chopped rotisserie chicken!

Other Easy Pasta Dishes

You can never go wrong fixing a simple, savory pasta dish for a hungry crowd.

These TikTok cafeteria noodles make for a perfect quick and easy, one pot meal whenever you need it, whether it’s for lunch or dinner!

Looking for other easy pasta recipes?

Try these:

• Instant Pot Crack Pasta with Ham
• Instant Pot Alfredo Pasta
• Two Timin’ Pasta
• 15 Minute Taco Pasta
• Creamy Cajun Egg Noodles
• Peanut Butter Lo Mein Noodles
• Creamy Garlic Parmesan Pasta

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