Creamy Lemon Pasta – Easy Parmesan Pasta Recipe
Creamy Lemon Pasta is a rich and silky pasta dish made with Parmesan cheese, garlic, fresh lemon, and cream.Ready in just 30 minutes.Perfect for quick weeknight dinners or elegant family meals
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked rigatoni or penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 small garlic clove minced
- ¼ cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- Zest of ½ lemon
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
- Extra grated Parmesan for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to the package instructions.
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sprinkle in the flour and whisk continuously for 1–2 minutes until smooth.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the chicken broth or vegetable broth, then add the lemon juice and lemon zest. Simmer for 1 minute.
- Slowly whisk in the heavy cream and cook for 3–5 minutes until the sauce begins to thicken.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Season generously with salt and black pepper.
- Reserve a little pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss until fully coated in the creamy sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Garnish the Creamy Lemon Pasta with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan before serving immediately
Notes
- Penne and rigatoni work best because they hold the creamy sauce well.
- Vegetable broth makes this recipe completely vegetarian.
- Add crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Leftovers make a delicious next-day lunch.