Description
Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta is a quick, flavorful dish perfect for busy weeknights. This simple recipe combines tender spaghetti with a rich garlic butter sauce infused with bright lemon zest and juice, a hint of heat from red pepper flakes, and a creamy finish of Parmesan cheese. Garnished with fresh parsley, it delivers a delightful balance of tangy, savory, and slightly spicy notes that will satisfy your pasta cravings in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces spaghetti or your favorite pasta
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Fill a large pot with water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
- Reserve Pasta Water and Drain: Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta in a colander without rinsing to maintain starchiness that helps the sauce stick.
- Melt Butter: In a large skillet, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat, taking care not to brown it, which could alter the flavor.
- Sauté Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and slightly golden, releasing its aromatic flavor.
- Add Lemon and Spices: Stir in the lemon zest and juice, mixing thoroughly. Add red pepper flakes for a subtle heat, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Toss Pasta in Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the skillet, tossing it to coat evenly in the lemon garlic butter sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water until you reach desired consistency.
- Incorporate Parmesan: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and fully combined, enriching the sauce with a creamy texture.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed by adding more lemon juice, cheese, salt, or pepper to suit your preference.
- Plate and Garnish: Twirl the pasta onto plates or into bowls, then sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
- Serve and Enjoy: Enjoy the pasta fresh, ideally accompanied by a crisp green salad or crusty bread for a complete meal experience.
Notes
- To make this dish vegan, substitute butter with plant-based butter and Parmesan with nutritional yeast or vegan cheese.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes according to your spice preference or omit if sensitive to heat.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor—pre-grated cheese may not melt as well.
- Reserve pasta water is key to help the sauce cling to the noodles and adjust consistency.
- Serve immediately for optimal taste and texture; pasta thickens as it cools.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
