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Bursting with tangy goodness, thisLemon Pastarecipe is the weeknight hero you didn’t know you needed. With a hint of zest, it’s about to become your new go-to meal. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s perfect for when you want something delicious without the wait.
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I’ve been cooking up delicious meals at home for40 years, learning everything I know through trial and error. I’m all aboutvegetariangoodness that’seasy to whip up and tastes amazing. My blog’s packed withrecipes for everyone, no matter your diet. My aim? Tomake cooking easy and fun for you.So, when I saythis Lemon Pasta is a winner, it’s because it’s atried-and-true favoritefrom my kitchen to yours.
Why You Will Love Making Lemon Pasta
If you’re in the mood for something light, zesty, and satisfying, making Pasta al Limone is an excellent choice. Here’s why you’ll adore preparing this dish:
- Quick and Easy:Ready in15 minuteswithminimal ingredients, this recipe is a lifesaver on busy weeknights.
- Flavorful:The combination offresh lemon sauce and parmesan cheesecreates a burst of flavors that’s hard to resist.
- Healthy Choice:Packed with the goodness offresh lemons and olive oil, this dish is both nutritious and delicious.
- Perfect for Any Occasion:Whether it’s acasual family dinnerorentertaining guests, Lemon Pasta is sure to impress.
- Leftover-Friendly:If you have any leftovers,they reheat beautifully, making for a tasty lunch or dinner the next day.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients in the photograph below.
How to Make Lemon Pasta with Step-By-Step Instructions
A complete printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.
Making this Lemon Pasta recipe is a breeze, and I’m here to guide you through each step. Let’s get started:
Boil the Pasta
Start bybringing a large pot of salted water to a boil.Add your spaghetti(or pasta of choice) andcook according to the package instructions. Remember,al dente is key– you want it cooked but still firm.
Create the Lemon Sauce
Heat a non-stick skillet to medium-high, add the olive oil, then once hot, add the garlic and onion cooking until translucent about 6-7 minutes being careful not to brown. Lower the heat, add the lemon juice and zest cooking for a couple minutes more, then season with salt and pepper.
Combine Pasta and Sauce
Once your pasta is cooked,save about ¼ cup of pasta water before draining.Return the pasta to the pot, pour in your lemon sauce, and toss it. Heat this over medium heat, stirring constantly.Add the reserved pasta water, bit by bituntil thesauce reaches your desired consistency. Season withsalt and black pepper to taste.
Garnish and Serve
Dish out the pasta into bowls.Top with a sprinkle of grated veggie parmesan, a bit more lemon zest, and freshly grounded pepperfor an extra burst of flavor. Serve and enjoy with lemon slices on the side.
Recipe Notes and Expert Tips
To help you perfect your Lemon Pasta, here are some handy tips and tricks:
- Pasta Choice:Whilespaghettiworks great, feel free to experiment with different types of pasta likeangel hair pasta or fettuccine.
- Lemons:Whilefresh lemon juice is idealfor flavor, you can usebottled lemon juice in a pinch.Thezestadds a nice zing, sodon’t skip it!
- Cheese:Vegetarian parmesan adds a wonderful depth of flavor, but you canexperiment with other hard cheesestoo.
- Heat Level:Adjust the amount ofred pepper flakesbased on how spicy you like your food.
- Make it Lighter:Add some veggieslike spinach or peas, and usewholewheat or chickpea pastafor extra fiber.
- Add Protein:Feel free to add cookedtofu, tempeh, or even chickpeasfor a protein boost.
- Herb Variations:No basil? No problem!Fresh parsleyor eventhymecan be great substitutes.
- Gluten-free:Justswap the regular pasta with your favorite gluten-free variety. The sauce and other ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
- Vegan Option:This recipe can be easily modified for vegans.Use vegan cheese alternatives. The rest of the ingredients are plant-based.
- Can I add nuts to this recipe?Definitely!Toasted pine nuts or slivered almondscan add alovely crunch and nutty flavorto the dish. Just sprinkle them on top before serving.
- Meal Prep: Cook the pasta the night before and store it in the fridge in a Ziploc bag with a little olive oil to stop it from sticking together. Mix the sauce ingredients and store them separately in an airtight container. Then just heat everything together the next day
- Want lemon garlic pasta? Mince two cloves of garlic, mix it in with the lemon sauce, and hey presto! You have lemon garlic pasta!
How to Store Leftover Lemon Pasta
Don’t let those delicious leftovers go to waste! Here’s how to store your Lemon Pasta effectively:
- Cool Before Storing:Allow the pasta tocool to room temperaturebefore storing, and use anairtight containerto keep the Lemon Pasta.
- Fridge:Properly stored, your Lemon Pasta should stay fresh for up to3-4 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheating:When you’re ready to eat, simplyreheat the pasta in a pan over medium heat.Add asplash of water or extra olive oilto loosen the sauce if needed.
What to Serve with this Lemon Pasta Recipe
Lemon Pasta is wonderfully versatile and pairs beautifully with a variety of sides. Here are some ideas to complete your meal:
Fresh Salad
A fresh, crisp salad is a no-brainer. It adds a refreshing touch to the pasta.Leafy greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a light vinaigretteare easy to throw together and taste great! Try our Easy Caprese Salad for an extra boost of Italian flavor at your table.
Air Fryer-Roasted Vegetables
Try serving your Lemon Pasta with a side of roasted vegetables.Air Fryer Broccoli, Air Fryer Roasted Asparagus, or Air Fryer Zucchini,seasoned with a bit of garlic, salt, and pepper, and air fried until tender, can be a tasty addition.
Buttery Garlic Bread
Who doesn’t lovegarlic bread? It’s a classic side that pairs excellently with pasta dishes. The crisp, buttery, garlic-flavored French Bread complements the zesty lemon flavor of the pasta.
More Pasta Recipes You Will Love
- Vegetarian Lasagna
- Pink Pasta Sauce
- Pasta Alla Sorrentina
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- Cacio e Pepe Recipe
Did you make this recipe? We’d love to know! Please leave a 5-star review below (it really helps!) and tag and follow us onPinterest,Facebook, andInstagram, for more tasty inspiration!
Print Pin Recipe
5 from 23 votes
Best Lemon Pasta Recipe (Ready in 15 Minutes!)
Our lemon pasta recipe is light, quick & easy. Make it in 15 minutes. Silky intense lemon flavor that is so delicious. Perfect as a main course or as a side dish on a buffet. Ideal summer pasta dish and suitable for vegetarians.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Total Time15 minutes mins
Servings4
Calories303
Course: Main course
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Mandy Applegate | Splash of Taste
Utensils
Large pot
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ onion diced small
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 lemons juiced and zested
- 2 tablespoons vegetarian parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
US Customary – Metric
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook your pasta according to packet directions, stirring occasionally. You always want to cook pasta al dente, so it's cooked but still firm when you bite into it.
8 ounces spaghetti
Heat a non-stick skillet to medium-high, add the olive oil, then once hot, add the garlic and onion cooking until translucent about 6-7 minutes being careful not to brown. Lower the heat, add the lemon juice and zest cooking for a couple minutes more, then season with salt and pepper.
2 tablespoons olive oil, ¼ onion, 2 lemons, 2 tablespoons vegetarian parmesan cheese, 2 cloves garlic
Once the pasta is cooked,save ¼ cup of water before draining. Add pasta and lemon sauce to the pot. Toss to coat. Heat on medium, stirring constantly.
Add a little of the pasta water to the sauce and keep adding a little at a time until you get the pasta sauce to the consistency that you prefer. Season with salt and pepper to taste
Salt and pepper
Serve on plates with 2 slices of lemon and garnish with finely grated parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and pepper.
Notes
- Pasta Choice:Whilespaghettiworks great, feel free to experiment with different types of pasta likeangel hair pasta or fettuccine.
- Lemons:Whilefresh lemon juice is idealfor flavor, you can usebottled lemon juice in a pinch.Thezestadds a nice zing, sodon’t skip it!
- Cheese:Vegetarian parmesan adds a wonderful depth of flavor, but you canexperiment with other hard cheesestoo.
- Heat Level:Adjust the amount ofred pepper flakesbased on how spicy you like your food.
- Make it Lighter: Add some veggieslike spinach or peas, and usewholewheat or chickpea pastafor extra fiber.
- Add Protein:Feel free to add cookedtofu, tempeh, or even chickpeasfor a protein boost.
- Herb Variations:No basil? No problem!Fresh parsleyor eventhymecan be great substitutes.
- Gluten-free:Justswap the regular pasta with your favorite gluten-free variety. The sauce and other ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
- Vegan Option:This recipe can be easily modified for vegans.Use vegan cheese alternatives. The rest of the ingredients are plant-based.
- Can I add nuts to this recipe?Definitely!Toasted pine nuts or slivered almondscan add alovely crunch and nutty flavorto the dish. Just sprinkle them on top before serving.
- Meal Prep: Cook the pasta the night before and store it in the fridge in a Ziploc bag with a little olive oil to stop it from sticking together. Mix the sauce ingredients and store them separately in an airtight container. Then just heat everything together the next day
- Want lemon garlic pasta? Mince two cloves of garlic, mix it in with the lemon sauce, and hey presto! You have lemon garlic pasta!
Storage & Reheating
- Cool Before Storing:Allow the pasta tocool to room temperaturebefore storing, and use anairtight containerto keep the Lemon Pasta.
- Fridge:Properly stored, your Lemon Pasta should stay fresh for up to3-4 days in the refrigerator.
- Reheating:When you’re ready to eat, simplyreheat the pasta in a pan over medium heat.Add asplash of water or extra olive oilto loosen the sauce if needed.
Nutrition
Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 45mg | Potassium: 219mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 32IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1mg
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
For the step-by-step version of this recipe check out how to make the best lemon pasta ever.
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