Description
This Easy One-Pot Lemon Pasta is a bright and creamy dish ready in just 20 minutes. Made with simple ingredients like butter, garlic, lemon juice, and parmesan, it delivers luscious flavor and a comforting texture. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal or any time you crave a fresh, zesty pasta that’s both satisfying and effortless.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound cooked spaghetti
Sauce
- 1 stick salted Danish creamy butter
- 2 cloves grated garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt, more or less to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 Tablespoons juice of a lemon
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Optional Garnish
- Fresh parsley
- Additional parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente according to package instructions. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 to 1 1/2 cups of pasta water. Set both aside.
- Melt Butter and Sauté Garlic: In the same large pot over medium heat, melt the stick of salted Danish creamy butter. Add the grated garlic, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir continuously for about 1 minute until the garlic becomes fragrant without browning.
- Add Lemon and Pasta: Stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest, then add the cooked spaghetti to the pot. Pour in 3/4 cup of the reserved pasta water and sprinkle in the freshly grated parmesan cheese. Toss everything together thoroughly to coat the pasta in the creamy lemon sauce, adding more pasta water if needed to reach your desired consistency.
- Serve: Once the pasta is evenly coated and the sauce is creamy, serve immediately. Optionally garnish with fresh parsley and extra parmesan cheese for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the garlic to avoid bitterness.
- Adjust salt according to the saltiness of the butter and parmesan cheese used.
- The reserved pasta water helps create a silky sauce by emulsifying the butter and cheese with the pasta starch.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the brightest flavor.
- Serve immediately as the sauce is best enjoyed fresh.
