Description
A bright and savory pasta dish featuring tender noodles coated in a luscious lemon garlic butter sauce—simple, elegant, and ready in under 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 12 oz spaghetti or fettuccine
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
- While pasta cooks, melt butter with olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute—don’t let it brown.
- Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. If the sauce seems dry, add a splash of reserved pasta water until smooth.
- Remove from heat, stir in grated Parmesan and chopped parsley. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and parsley.
Notes
- Make it creamy: whisk in 2–3 tbsp of heavy cream or Greek yogurt at step 5.
- Protein option: add cooked shrimp or grilled chicken for a heartier meal.
- Storage: refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days; reheat with a splash of water.
- Gluten-free option: swap in GF pasta.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg