Description
Easy Lemon Pasta is a bright and flavorful dish featuring al dente spaghetti tossed in a simple lemon-garlic olive oil sauce, finished with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese. This light, cream-free recipe delivers a zesty, garlicky punch and is ready in under 20 minutes, making it perfect for a quick, satisfying weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- Kosher salt
- Extra virgin olive oil
For the Sauce & Finish
- 6 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
- Zest of 2 lemons
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional), plus more to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and generously salt it. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, approximately 8 minutes. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water for later use.
- Make the lemon-garlic olive oil sauce. About halfway through the pasta cooking time (around 5 minutes), heat 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Whisk in the lemon juice and roughly 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water, setting aside the rest for adjusting the sauce later if needed.
- Toss pasta with the sauce. Drain the cooked spaghetti and add it directly to the skillet with the sauce. Toss the pasta over medium heat until it is fully coated with the lemon-garlic oil mixture, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Finish and serve. Remove the skillet from heat, then stir in the chopped parsley, lemon zest, and grated Parmesan cheese if using. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Toss again to combine thoroughly. If the pasta seems dry, add a splash more of the reserved pasta water and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately while hot for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- This recipe offers a lighter, cream-free take on traditional spaghetti al limone, emphasizing fresh lemon and garlic flavors.
- You can adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to make it more or less spicy based on your preference.
- Adding the reserved pasta water helps create a silky sauce that clings to the noodles perfectly.
- Parmesan cheese is optional but adds a savory depth and richness to the dish.
- Use fresh lemons for the best aromatic and bright flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 352.5 kcal
- Sugar: 2.4 g
- Sodium: 123.6 mg
- Fat: 3.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 66.5 g
- Fiber: 3.2 g
- Protein: 13.5 g
- Cholesterol: 5.4 mg
