EASY Lemon Pasta
A quick Lemon Pasta recipe made with spaghetti, butter, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and fresh lemon.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter sliced into pats
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest plus more for garnish
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice plus more to taste
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Chopped fresh parsley or basil leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente.
- Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Once the butter foams, reduce the heat to low.
- Add the lemon zest and minced garlic.
- Cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant.
- Transfer the cooked pasta directly into the skillet.
- Add ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and toss continuously until a light sauce forms.
- Add half of the Parmesan cheese and toss until incorporated.
- Stir in the lemon juice and remaining Parmesan cheese.
- Continue tossing until the sauce becomes smooth and silky.
- Add additional pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Season with sea salt, black pepper, and additional lemon juice to taste.
- Garnish the Lemon Pasta with extra lemon zest and fresh parsley or basil.
- Serve immediately with additional Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Substitute spaghetti with linguine, fettuccine, or angel hair pasta.
- Fresh basil adds a slightly sweeter flavor than parsley.
- For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- Serve with garlic bread and a crisp green salad.
- Add roasted asparagus, spinach, or peas for extra vegetables.