Drew Barrymore's Go-To Pasta Is Perfect for Fall and Brooke Shields Approved

Jo Ann Liguori

Fri, August 22, 2025 at 8:56 AM UTC

3 min read

Drew Barrymore and Brooke Shields, both former child stars turned multi-hyphenate powerhouses, bonded over childhood experiences and cooking on The Drew Barrymore Show.
Drew Barrymore shared her go-to recipe for brown butter sage pasta, a comforting dish perfect for fall dinners, with Brooke Shields on the show.
Brown butter, a simple sauce made by browning butter until nutty and aromatic, is the key ingredient in Drew Barrymore's easy and delicious pasta recipe.

Drew Barrymore and Brooke Shields grew up in front of the camera: Drew charming the world in E.T., and Brooke turning heads in Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon . Today, both women have evolved into multi-hyphenate powerhouses: actors, producers, authors, mothers.

And when it comes to fall dinners, Barrymore as a Rebel Homemaker has a recipe she swears by. During Shields' 2023 appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show , the two Hollywood veterans spoke candidly about life as child stars, their complicated relationships with their mothers and the resilience it took to get through it all. But their conversation didn't stop at the couch—Barrymore invited Shields into the kitchen to make her go-to brown butter sage pasta, a dish that's simple, comforting and tailor-made for cozy autumn nights.

What unfolded was part cooking lesson and part heart-to-heart. Though Shields insisted, "I do not know what I'm doing in the kitchen" (the self-deprecating former Calvin Klein model actually has a playful Instagram series called " Brooke Don't Cook "), Barrymore's delicious, simple recipe was able to change that. Let's dig in.

What is Brown Butter?

If there's one ingredient that instantly makes a dish taste richer and cozier, it's brown butter . Known in French as beurre noisette ("hazelnut butter"), this simple sauce transforms melted butter into a nutty, aromatic base that feels like sweater weather in food form. Barrymore first learned the trick a decade ago at The Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, where she and friends Reese Witherspoon and Cameron Diaz took a crash course in pasta. Now, it's a technique she swears by.

"I find [cooking] so intimidating," the Never Been Kissed star admitted, "but they made me realize this is the easiest dish to make." Paired with sage and pasta, brown butter delivers five-star flavor with a beginner-friendly process—perfect for teaching a friend who claims she "can't cook."

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How to Make Drew Barrymore's Brown Butter Sage Pasta

You can watch the segment to get all of the recipe details, but here's a quick rundown of how to make Drew's Brown Butter Sage Pasta.

In a pan over medium heat, melt the butter and keep it moving until it foams and begins to darken. Once the butter turns golden brown (but not too dark!), add fresh sage to the pan. Let the sage sizzle and infuse the butter with flavor. Pour the butter sauce over cooked pasta and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper, and top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. That's it!

Drew Barrymore's Tips for the Best Brown Butter Sage Pasta

Keep a close eye on the butter.

Drew advises aiming for a toasty hue, like the color of hazelnuts. Don't let your brown butter burn!

Use whole fresh sage leaves.

Drew likes to "maintain the integrity" of the herb. Just snip the leaves or gently pull them from the stems.

Season to taste.

In Drew's words: "Everything is better with a little salt and pepper." Top with a sprinkle of Parmesan if desired.

For someone who'd declared herself hopeless in the kitchen, Shields surprised even herself. "Oh my God. I can cook. I'm so happy," she exclaimed after plating and tasting the pasta. Watching her friend's confidence grow in real time, Barrymore playfully suggested a spin-off: "Brooke Can Cook."

Shields' transformation from hesitant home cook to pasta pro was sweet, spontaneous and totally relatable. Turns out, a little brown butter—and a good friend cheering you on—is all you need for a kitchen win.

This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.