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This Lemon Garlic Pasta is my favorite kind of weeknight dinner. It's made with simple ingredients, needs just a few minutes of prep, and delivers big flavor from a rich, buttery garlic sauce balanced with fresh, bright lemon.
Love easy pasta dinners? Don't miss my recipes for White Bean Pasta, Marry Me Orzo, and Pesto Pasta.
Kristen's Keys for Lemon Garlic Pasta
In a recipe this simple, a few key tips make all the difference.
- Use quality ingredients. Because this lemon pasta uses just a handful of ingredients, it is important to choose quality ingredients. Opt for fresh Parmesan, good butter, and quality extra virgin olive oil and you are well on your way to ensuring good flavor.
- Look for a bright yellow lemon that feels heavy for its size. That is a good indication that it will be juicy, vibrant, and give your pasta the lemon flavor this dish is known for. I also recommend rolling the lemon on the counter or microwaving for 20 seconds to get the juices flowing.
- Heavily salt the pasta water. For every pound of pasta, add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt to the cooking water, to ensure the noodles season from the inside out.
- Save some of the pasta water. The starch in that liquid helps everything cling together and create a creamy sauce -- without using any cream!
How to Make Lemon Garlic Pasta
Cook the pasta, sauté the garlic, and bring everything together in one pan. Start to finish you are looking at about 20 minutes. It really is that simple.
Step One: Cook Pasta
Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Once boiling, add in 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, and drop in the spaghetti noodles. Cook, stirring occasionally, until for 1 minute less than the package directions indicate. You want your pasta to be firm to the bite, as it will finish cooking in the sauce.
Remove 1 cup of the cooking liquid, and then drain the pasta over a colander.
Step Two: Build the Sauce
In a large skillet, or the same pot you used for the pasta, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat until the butter is fully melted. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for just 30 seconds, or until just fragrant. You're looking to bloom the flavors, not brown the garlic. If your garlic browns, you need to start over.
Step Three: Toss Together
Add the cooked spaghetti along with ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss well to coat. If the pasta looks dry, add a splash more of the cooking liquid, a tablespoon or two at a time. The goal is a light, silky sauce that clings to the noodles, not dry, and definitely not swimming. Cook for another 1-2 minutes, just until everything is warmed through and glossy.
Step Four: Finish with Flavor
After removing the noodles from the heat, add in the zest and juice of a large lemon, along with a generous amount of parmesan cheese and toss to combine.
Notes on Yield & Serving Suggestions
This lemon garlic pasta is designed to serve 4 as a main course. If you are serving young children or adding a salad and side of bread, you can likely stretch it out to closer to 6 servings. And if you are serving teen athletes, count on 2 servings -- ask me how I know!😅
Here are some of my favorite pairings to round out dinner:
- Add a Salad: Elevate your meal with an asparagus salad or keep it simple (and delicious) with a spinach avocado salad.
- Add Veggies: Pair steamed broccoli, roasted asparagus, or green beans almondine on the side.
- Add a Side of Bread: Serve with a warm baguette paired with bread dipping oil or everyone's favorite garlic toast.
- Add a Protein: Add sliced lemon pepper chicken, grilled shrimp skewers, or air fryer lemon garlic shrimp, to the pasta right before serving for added protein.
Recipe Variations
- No Lemon? Skip it and enjoy garlic parmesan pasta. Do NOT substitute for refrigerated lemon juice.
- Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free spaghetti or linguine.
- Dairy-Free: Replace the butter with additional olive oil and omit the parmesan cheese.
- Adjust the Heat: Increase or decrease the amount of red pepper flakes depending on your tolerance for spice.
More Easy Pasta Recipes
Lemon Garlic Pasta
Video
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
- kosher salt + black pepper
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- ¼ cup minced fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add 1 tablespoon of kosher salt to the water along with the spaghetti noodles. Cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the package directions state, or until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
- Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat until the butter has melted. Add 4 garlic cloves (minced) and ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Remove pan from heat.
- Add the drained cooked pasta to the skillet, along with ¼ cup of the reserved water. Heat over medium heat, tossing to coat. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through, adding more pasta water as needed. .
- Remove the skillet from the heat and add the zest and juice from the lemon along with a pinch of salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. Toss to coat.
- Serve with parsley with additional parmesan cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delish!