This homemade pasta recipe is made 4 ways with just 4 ingredients. It's soft, fresh, rich, and chewy. If you've never had homemade pasta before, this is one thing you don't want to miss out on!

Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Homemade pasta is one thing I don't make nearly enough. My mom has always made it with her chicken noodle soup and it seriously brings back childhood memories for me. It's so simple, yet people tend to buy it from the store before making it anymore. Something this basic yet rewarding deserves to be made from scratch, (at least some of the time).

One of my biggest dreams has always been to go to Italy, see the sights, speak Italian, meet amazing people, and most of all, eat until I explode. Until that day, I'll do all I can to bring a little bit of that country to my kitchen. I love making homemade pasta sauce and pasta whenever I get a chance. For those of you who have never gone to Italy, you can bring a little of that home, like I try to. Anyone who has gone can attest to how much homemade pasta reminds them of the Old Country.

Learning how to make homemade pasta is so easy and since it's made with only 4 ingredients, you'll most likely have everything you need already. You can make pasta with all-purpose flour, "00" flour, or a combination with semolina flour. If it's the first time making it, you probably don't have a pasta maker or drying rack, and THAT'S OK! All you need is a rolling pin and a knife or pizza cutter.

If you don't have a pasta machine, Kitchenaid attachment, or drying rack, don't worry about it. You can still get amazing pasta without all these tools. I'll also cover how to use these pasta tools for anyone who already has them or wants to invest in them.

Ingredients for Homemade Pasta

There are only 4 ingredients to make pasta.

• Flour: You can use all-purpose, semolina, or "00" for this.
• Eggs: Eggs work two ways here. They are one of the main components and provide substance to the overall food. They also bind all the ingredients together.
• Salt: This is for flavor.
• Olive oil: Oil helps smooth out the dough and adds to the richness.

How to make Homemade Pasta by hand

People have been making pasta by hand for centuries. It may not be the fastest method but it is definitely the most tried and true.

1. Start by making a mound of flour on a clean surface.
2. Whisk the eggs, oil, and salt with a fork until they are all combined.
3. Pour the eggs in the middle of the flour. Slowly mix the flour in with the eggs using the fork until all the egg is combined and you've got a rough dough.
4. Sprinkle a little more flour on the counter and knead the dough for 8 - 10 minutes or until it's smooth and elastic adding flour if the dough is too sticky.
5. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it sit for 30 minutes.
6. Roll the dough out with a rolling pin into a square and cut it in half. Cover the half you're not using with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.
7. Using the rolling pin, continue rolling the section in a square shape until it's ¼ inch thick or thin enough to see through.
8. Fold the dough over as if you were going to make cinnamon rolls, but in a rectangle shape. (See photo below)
9. Cut the folded dough in thin strips.
10. Lay them out to dry or use a drying rack to hang them.
11. Repeat with the second section.

How to make pasta with a food processor

You can use a food processor to cut the kneading time down to 2 minutes rather than doing the first part by hand. This is definitely the fastest method and worth noting if you have this tool and want to give it a try.

1. Put all the ingredients into a food processor and blend for 30 seconds or until you have a crumbly dough.
2. Remove the dough and knead it on a floured surface for about 2 minutes or until it's smooth and elastic.
3. Cover it in plastic wrap to rest for 30 minutes.

How to make pasta with a stand mixer

You can also make this homemade pasta dough recipe by using a stand mixer which will do the kneading for you.

1. Put all the ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer.
2. Use the dough hook to knead the dough for 8 - 10 minutes.
3. Remove the dough and wrap it in plastic wrap to rest for 30 minutes.

Use a pasta machine to roll and cut the dough

This is the fun part.

1. Roll the dough on a floured surface into a square. Cut it into fourths.
2. Feed it through the machine on the thickest setting. Fold the dough into a rectangle, flour on both sides, and continue feeding it through the machine and lowering the setting until you get to the desired thickness. If it gets too long, cut it in half.
3. Attach the cutter if necessary and feed the dough through the cutting side.
4. Dry the pasta by hanging it on a rack or by laying it out.

Use a Kitchenaid pasta attachment to roll pasta

This is a great option if you have this attachment.

1. Unwrap the dough from the plastic wrap and roll it into a square and cut it into four pieces.
2. Feed the dough through the attachment at the thickest setting. Fold it over if it gets too wide.
3. Continue feeding it through as you lower the setting until you get the thickness you want. Cut this in half if it gets too long.
4. Attach the cutter and roll the dough through to get nice, straight pasta.

How to cook your homemade pasta noodles

Cooking your pasta is the same as cooking dry pasta except it only needs 1 - 3 minutes of cook time instead of 11.

1. Bring a pot of water to boil and add a heaping tablespoon of salt.
2. Add the pasta with tongs, making sure to stir and separate the strands so they don't stick together.
3. Drain in a colander in the sink. Some recipes call for some pasta water which has excellent flavor, so remember to do that before dumping it all down the drain.

How to store your easy homemade pasta

Refrigerate: You can store the cut pasta in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freeze: You can freeze the pasta for up to 3 months. I suggest freezing the pasta in 2 cup portions so you can pull out one or two bags at a time for each meal.

To cook, just put the frozen dough in the boiling water and cook for 5 minutes or until it's al dente.

**SLS PRO TIP: Al dente pasta is when it's cooked all the way through but still has a "bite" and isn't mushy.

Recipes to use with your fresh homemade pasta

Now that you've got this great pasta, you may be wondering what to make with it. Here are some great ideas:

• Creamy Chicken Marsala
• Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash Sauce
• Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta
• Skinny Fettucine Alfredo
• Lemon Linguine with Roasted Tomatoes

If you try it out, let me know how it goes in the comments or on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.