Easy Lemon Garlic Pasta (Pasta Al Limone)

This is for you if you love an easy lemon garlic pasta recipe! Made in 15 minutes, then top with shredded parmesan cheese, parsley, or red pepper flakes for a spicy meal.

Though it sounds like a summer dish, lemon garlic pasta is enjoyed all year round. The best part of this recipe: it can have several variations and will make your taste buds sing.

What Is Pasta Al Limone?

Originating in Sicily, Pasta al Limone is a classic Italian simple pasta dish that combines long pasta noodles with butter, lemon, parmesan cheese, and garlic. This easy recipe proves delicious food can be made with simple ingredients.

The secret to making the perfect lemon garlic butter pasta sauce is the starchy pasta water because it clings to your noodles and adds flavor.

Why you'll love this recipe?

• Made with simple, fresh ingredients – Loaded with lemon, garlic, and butter, this simple lemon pasta recipe is full of unique flavors. You will only need everyday kitchen staples to get the perfect flavor combination.
• 15-Minute Meal – Are you always pressed for time? You can prepare lemon garlic parmesan pasta faster than you can get takeout!
• Easy Modification - You can use any pasta you like for this lemon pasta recipe.

1. Pasta - 1 pound (450g) angel hair, spaghetti, or other long pasta: I love using thin spaghetti or angel hair pasta; nevertheless, any long noodle will work. The lemon garlic pasta sauce works best in a longer shape than a round shape. Substitute with keto-friendly or gluten-free pasta for an easy diet modification.
2. Butter - 5 tablespoons (70g) unsalted butter (vegans use plant-based butter at a 1:1 ratio): Lemon garlic pasta utilizes butter and cheese to give it a rich flavor.
3. Garlic - 5 large garlic cloves minced: I recommend using a minimum of five cloves. For extra flavor, use roasted garlic!
4. Lemon - Finely grated zest of 1 lemon, plus fresh juice: If you prefer more lemon, you can adjust the amount of juice. I always add extra.
5. Cheese: ½ cup (50g) grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, plus more for serving. Vegans use plant-based parmesan (I recommend the "Follow Your Heart" brand.)

Garnish Options

• Fresh parsley: Parsley is excellent at adding vibrant color to this simple garlic lemon pasta dish that aids in balancing the richness of the sauce. It adds a fresh flavor.
• Parmesan cheese freshly grated: If you use good quality cheese, it will enhance the flavor immensely. It adds a nutty flavor and gives this lemony pasta some depth. Use freshly grated pasta because the pre-shredded version does not melt properly.
• Crushed red pepper: To add spiciness.
• Peas - Peas work perfectly with this dish to add flavor and texture.
• Additional Mediterranean flavors - I like to add kalamata olives, capers, artichoke hearts, and/or roasted red peppers to give this dish a strong Mediterranean flair!

Instructions

1. Pasta: In a medium pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until just shy of al dente. Reserve about 1 cup (240ml) of the starchy pasta water, then drain the pasta.
2. Lemon Sauce: While cooking pasta, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When the butter begins to foam, reduce the heat to low, and add lemon zest, lemon juice, and minced garlic. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside until the pasta is ready.
3. Combine: Add 1 cup of pasta water to the butter mixture and combine. Add the pasta and toss to coat the pasta evenly. Add grated cheese and toss rapidly until the sauce thickens; if it becomes too tight and dry, add more pasta-cooking water to loosen it.
4. Garnish: Add additional fresh lemon juice to desired taste. Season with salt and black pepper. Top with desired garnishes such as freshly grated parmesan cheese, fresh basil, parsley, and/or red pepper flakes.

Pairings

The best thing about pasta is the different ways you can pair the dish. You can enjoy this lemon garlic pasta creamy as a primary or side dish, together with:

• Bread - Pasta and crusty bread go hand in hand. Enjoy this dish with easy homemade bread, Turkish pide bread, cheesy garlic bread, or vegan garlic bread.
• Salad: Round out the dinner with a salad. I recommend this kale crunch salad with a lemon dijon dressing or go fancy with a strawberry, apricot, and pistachio salad.
• Vegetables: Serve with steamed or roasted vegetables. The best combinations include zucchini, broccoli, asparagus, green beans, roasted brussels sprouts, etc.

Flavorful Additions

Lemon sauce for pasta is a great dish because you can customize it according to your preferences. There are numerous flavorful additions, including:

• ¾ cup heavy cream – Add cream to create a creamy velvet sauce.
• Toasted Pine Nuts– Create a sweet flavor. Toast for a deeper flavor.
• Cherry Tomatoes– You can add a burst of pulsating flavor by including cherry tomatoes. Quick oven-roast the tomatoes for a deeper flavor!
• Lemon shrimp pasta - Add grilled shrimp to make lemon garlic butter shrimp pasta.
• Add chicken –Adds a juicy flavor and protein to make this a well-rounded meal.
• Vegan Alternative - Start by switching out animal butter for vegan butter. I recommend using plant-based parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast for a cheese flavor. Swap regular cream with canned coconut milk for a creamy dish.
• Herbs: basil and parsley pair perfectly with lemon pasta!