Creamy Lemon Pasta has a light sauce made with lemons, garlic, parmesan cheese, cream, olive oil and spices. This lemon spaghetti recipe is bright and tangy. It is a quick and easy meal to make! In the length of time it takes to boil and cook the pasta, the sauce will be done. This meal will be on your table in less than 30 minutes! This post has been updated from April 11, 2016 to improve the reader experience.
Easy Lemon Pasta Recipe
Lemon Pasta
Lemons, lemons everywhere!
It’s citrus season here in the valley. The farmer’s markets are full of oranges, grapefruit and lemons. In fact, just about everyone has lemons. Literally, you can’t give them away right now!
My MIL has a lemon bush, which is really a lemon tree that’s been shaped into a hedge. We always make sure we harvest the lemons every year. Have you ever picked lemons? If so, you know the branches are adorned with nasty thorns! Long sleeves and gloves are a must.
We collected a pile and have a whole refrigerator full! Now…. what to make? A couple of thoughts are Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup – always so good! Or maybe I should make Rosemary Lemon Roasted Potatoes which is a wonderful side dish or perhaps a Lemon Drop Martini. Yes… I think I should make that first and then ponder what’s next!
When we harvested the lemons, they were really light, not heavy at all. I wondered if they would be any good, but boy was I wrong! What had happened was as the lemons began to dehydrate the flavor and color intensified.
They have aged like a fine wine! (Well maybe that’s pushing it a bit, but truly these lemons are spectacular!) Here’s a picture of the lemons we picked (right) compared to a store bought lemon on the left.
Pretty amazing huh?
Lemon Spaghetti
Grocery List for Lemon Pasta Recipe
- garlic
- olive oil
- red pepper flakes
- pepper
- whipping cream
- fresh lemon juice
- lemon zest
- parmesan cheese
- basil and parsley for garnish
- spaghetti
I’ve made Lemon Spaghetti several times including when my folks visited last week. My Dad (who is not a pasta fan) even liked it! The flavors are bright, lemony and fresh. It’s very savory and just creamy enough – pasta perfection!
Lemon Spaghetti is tangy and creamy – so full of flavor!
Lemon Pasta Recipe
Step-by-step directions for making Lemon Pasta
- Put a large pot of salted water on the stove to boil. When boiling, drop the spaghetti in and cook to al dente.
- Prepare the sauce. Chop the garlic and place in a large deep fry pan over low heat with olive oil. Season with red pepper flakes and black pepper. Slowly sauté the garlic.
- Next, add the lemon zest and whipping cream. Stir to combine.
- When the pasta is done, remove the sauce from the heat and add the lemon juice. Transfer the cooked noodles to the sauce mixing well to combine.
- Top with shredded parmesan cheese and garnish with parsley & chopped basil.
Mix the pasta with the sauce well to combine all of the flavors!
Tips for making the BEST Lemon Pasta!
- Salt the pasta water well – how much salt is enough? For every six cups of water add a tablespoon of salt.
- Cook your pasta just short of al dente – the pasta will finish cooking in the sauce so you don’t want to overcook it!
- Save your pasta cooking liquid – that starchy water is perfect for loosening up the lemon cream sauce as it’s tossed with the pasta.
- Garnish with basil and parsley – the fresh herbs give it such a bright taste. Garnishing is optional but it’s something I would definitely recommend!
Easy Lemon Spaghetti
Lemons, garlic, parmesan cheese, cream, olive oil and some spices – that’s it! Couldn’t be any easier and it’s a delicious 30 minutes #MeatlessMeal!
More delicious pasta recipes from the blog!
- Butternut Squash Pasta
- Homemade Alfredo Sauce 30 Minute Meal
- Spaghetti Carbonara
- Easy Spaghetti Sauce
- Recipe for Marinara Sauce
- Pasta Puttanesca
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Lemon Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons chopped garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3/4 cup whipping cream
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
- basil and parsley for garnish if desired
- 1 13.5 13.5 oz package spaghetti
Instructions
- Start by putting a large pot of salted water on the stove to boil. When it reaches a rolling boil, drop the spaghetti in and cook according to package directions to just al dente.
- While the pot is heating & spaghetti is cooking continue to prepare the sauce. Chop the garlic and place in a large deep fry pan over low heat with olive oil. Don't all the garlic to brown, this will make it bitter. Add the red pepper flakes and black pepper. Slowly sauté the garlic for about 10 minutes, along with the spices.
- Next add the lemon zest and whipping cream. Continue to stir and the flavors will slowly combine.
- When the pasta is done, turn the heat off from the sauce. Add in the lemon juice. Stir to combine, then begin transferring the cooked noodles to the sauce mixing well to combine.
- Top the noodles with the shredded parmesan cheese and mix again. Garnish with parsley & chopped basil.
Florian @ContentednessCooking says
That looks so fresh and flavorful!
Bowl Me Over says
Yum, yum, yum – thanks Florian!
Peter Block says
Looks truly delicious. Love the creamy and lemony texture and flavor.
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Peter – such a yummy pasta, I hope you give it a try!
Lois says
Deb fixed this meal for us when we were visiting last week and it was very very good. So tasty and fresh.
Bowl Me Over says
A real family favorite, thanks Mom!
Patty Haxton Anderson says
What a difference between the lemons!!! I’ve been thinking about a lemon pasta dish lately as something to try and you’ve inspired me to give it a go.
Bowl Me Over says
Isn’t it amazing Patty? I know I’m spoiled because I can pluck them right off the trees so I try to make the most of them while they are available!
Gina says
This is going on the list for the next grocery trip! Looks so fresh and yummy! Can’t wait!
Bowl Me Over says
Awesome Gina – I think the whole family will enjoy this one! Thanks so much for taking a moment to comment, I so appreciate it!
Michelle says
I made this last night, but added some stir fried veggies and carmelized onions. The sauce is light and creamy with just the right amount of lemon. Could see it as a Primavera dish as well with lovely Spring vegetables. Good job, Deb.
Bowl Me Over says
Thank you so much Michelle! I appreciate hearing the feedback and your ideas, gotta love a great pasta dish, yum!!
Ginger Wroot says
Oh, this looks sooo lish! I have lemons I need to use up now, and this is the prefect recipe! Thanks!
–G
http://gingerwroot.com
Martie says
MMM…pasta…my love language! I love to combine lemon and cream, especially on pasta! Thanks for sharing on #FoodieFriDIY!
Bowl Me Over says
Yum, yum, yum – we are speaking the same language! 😀
Bowl Me Over says
Yum, yum, yum – It’s definitely a family favorite over here! 😀 Thank you Martie!
Ilka says
This is exactly how I love pasta – light, simple and easy!I never tried lemon pasta but I will give this sauce a try. It looks beautiful! Pinning and stumbleing!
Bowl Me Over says
Awesome, thank you so much Ilka!!!
Lindsay De La Cerda says
I just made this for dinner!!
Bowl Me Over says
Wonderful – Lindsay, what did you think? I hope you & your family really enjoyed it!
Healing Tomato says
I made this for dinner tonight and it was the best pasta recipe ever! My kitchen has a heavenly aroma of lemon zest and garlic. The pasta was so creamy and delicious. I used whole wheat pasta and it tasted just as good. You are very talented and you know how to make a good pasta recipe. 🙂
Bowl Me Over says
Thank you so much!!! We LOVE this pasta dish, now you’ve inspired me to make it again 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!!
Liza says
I have to make this for dinner!! It’s so good! My pasta-loving husband will be impressed for sure! Thanks!
Bowl Me Over says
Enjoy Liza, it’s an easy meal that everyone loves!
Susan says
Great recipe,used as a base to add into lightly steamed leeks,courgette and cabbage. A winner all.round.
Bowl Me Over says
Thanks Susan!
Kim says
Added steamed shrimp to make it a complete meal, fresh sliced tomatoes on the side. A salad would go good with it.
Bowl Me Over says
That sounds perfect Kim and delicious!!!