Name: Easy Lemon Garlic Pasta Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 12 oz uncooked spaghetti; 2 tbsp butter; 3 tbsp olive oil; 5 garlic cloves (minced); 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper; 1 large lemon; 1/3 cup fresh chopped parsley; kosher salt and black pepper to taste; 2 oz freshly grated parmesan cheese

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Lemon garlic pasta is bold in flavor and is a quick meal option as it only takes 20-30 minutes to prepare. The zesty garlic pasta is best for busy weeknights when you want a comfort meal on your dinner tables in less time.

Lemon garlic pasta is a lighter version of the classic Italian pasta dish, Pasta al Limone. Instead of using heavy cream, I use a mixture of olive oil and butter with pasta water. For creaminess, I garnish the noodles with parmesan cheese before serving.

Just toss the pasta in lemon garlic butter sauce, and top it off with herbs and cheese. And that’s it, you are all done, and the pasta is ready for dinner!

What is lemon garlic pasta made of?

Lemon garlic pasta is not only easy to make with less cooking time, but it also requires only a handful of ingredients that are readily available in our kitchens. Here’s what you will need:

Spaghetti noodles: use any long dry pasta you have. You can also use whole-wheat pasta.
Olive oil: this is the major ingredient in the sauce. Use any brand you have.
Butter: use unsalted or salted butter. If you are using unsalted butter, you will need to add a little salt for taste.
Lemon: take the whole lemon, remove the zest, and then squeeze for fresh juice that will go in the sauce.
Garlic: take the freshest garlic available, and remove 5 cloves. Make sure to mince it.
Fresh parsley: parsley will enhance the flavor of the dish. You can also use basil and oregano.
Parmesan cheese: dusting the noodles with cheese gives the dish a creamy flavor that goes a long way.

Instructions

Take a large pot of water and bring it to a boil. Add 1 tsp salt and cook spaghetti al dente. It will take approximately 7-8 minutes. Don’t overcook the pasta, as it will turn out mushy.
Drain the pasta and keep 1 cup of pasta water aside.
In a skillet, heat olive oil until sizzling. Add garlic and chili flakes. Stir until garlic is golden brown, for about 30 seconds.
Add cooked pasta to the garlic mixture with 1/4 cup of pasta water. Toss the pasta and make sure the garlic oil covers it thoroughly.
Remove pasta from heat, and stir in butter, lemon zest, juice, and parsley. Transfer it to the serving plate and garnish with parmesan cheese.

Add-Ons and Variations

Lemon garlic pasta pairs well with proteins such as grilled chicken, beef broccoli, shrimp, or salmon. For a vegan option, you can use tofu as chicken, or marinated tofu.
This zesty pasta works well with grilled vegetables like broccoli, peas, asparagus, zucchini, sauteed mushrooms, and carrot.
You can also add cream for a creamy lemon garlic pasta with additions of legumes such as white beans or chickpeas.
Feel free to add herbs such as basil, oregano, arugula, and more.
You can add roasted or grilled cherry tomatoes for extra flavor. Sun-dried tomato also complements the zesty lemon flavor.
Lightly roasted pistachios, almonds, walnuts, and pine nuts serve as a perfect garnish for pasta.

Important Things to Consider

Use any long pasta you have for this recipe.
Don’t overcook the pasta, as it will result in a soft mush when you add the spices.
Zest the lemon before squeezing the juice out. I recommend zesting the entire lemon and saving it to use in other recipes.
If you feel like your pasta is too dry, you can add more pasta water when you are cooking it in the skillet. You can also add cream as well.