Lemon Garlic Pasta
This quick and easy lemon garlic pasta comes together in just 20 minutes. It's a great pasta dish that pairs well with so many proteins to make a complete meal.
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 486kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ pound spaghetti or your favorite pasta
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil plus more as needed
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper chili flakes optional
- 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
- ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese plus more for garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley plus more for garnish
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot with generously salted water, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water for later.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, heat about ¼ cup of olive oil and sauté minced garlic and red pepper flakes for about 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant. Then, stir in the lemon zest for just a few seconds.
- Add the cooked pasta into the skillet, tossing to coat. Then squeeze in fresh lemon juice, adjusting the amount to taste. Stir in some of the reserved pasta water and also more olive oil as needed for consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss in the freshly grated parmesan cheese, tossing to combine. Stir in the parsley.
- To serve, garnish with more cheese and parsley, as well as lemon zest if you’d like. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use good quality extra virgin olive oil. It really shines in this recipe.
- Use freshly grated parmesan cheese for best results. Pre-packaged comes with extra preservatives that can make it gritty when melted.
- Don’t forget to zest the lemon before squeezing it. I always forget!
- Storage: Place any leftovers in an airtight container then refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Place in a skillet over medium heat, add in a splash of water or olive oil to loosen. Heat until warmed through.
- Pasta: Spaghetti, fettuccine, linguini, angel hair, rigatoni, penne.
- Add ins: Bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, black olives, capers.
Disclaimer: Nutritional values (per serving) are approximates only.
Nutrition
Calories: 486kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 274mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 284IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 2mg