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    Home » Recipes » Lemon Butter Pasta

    Lemon Butter Pasta

    Jun 2, 2022 · 18 Comments

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    You'll love this Lemon Butter Pasta Recipe! With a lemon butter pasta sauce, perfectly cooked spaghetti, and plenty of cheese, each bite of this easy pasta dish is so delicious!

    Lemon Butter Pasta

    Recipe Inspiration

    Lemon garlic butter sauce has always been one of my favorite ways to eat pasta. Who doesn't love lemon, garlic, and butter?!

    My version of this pasta al limone doesn't have any heavy cream. Instead, it has a flavorful lemon sauce that comes together with the juice and zest of fresh lemons. It's so delicious and doesn't need any cream added!

    The trick to get a creamy sauce without adding cream is by adding pasta water to the cooked hot pasta in the sauce. Tossing everything together with the pasta water creates a delicious silky, creamy sauce.

    This pasta dish is perfect for busy weeknights but is fancy feeling enough for a special occasion or date night! It takes minimal effort but gives you maximum flavor in each bite.

    For more easy pasta recipes, check out our Spicy Rigatoni, Chicken Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo, and Shrimp Luciano recipes.

    Jump to:
    • Recipe Inspiration
    • Why You'll Love this Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Directions
    • Expert Tips and Tricks
    • Kitchen Equipment
    • Recipe Substitutions/Variations
    • What To Serve With
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Recipe Storage and Reheating
    • Other Recipes to Try
    • Lemon Butter Pasta
    lemon garlic butter sauce

    Why You'll Love this Recipe

    Delicious - This Lemon Butter Sauce recipe is so delicious. Each bite is packed with flavor that your family will truly love! It's really a perfect dish for the whole family. Great for entertaining too!

    Approachable - This recipe is approachable and is easy to make. You only need a few kitchen tools to make this great recipe. The best part of this pasta recipe is easy enough to make for a weeknight, but also fancy-feeling enough to make for a date night!

    Kid Friendly - This is a great recipe for adults and children!

    lemon garlic butter pasta

    Ingredients

    Here are the simple ingredients you will need for this lemon butter garlic pasta sauce recipe:

    • Spaghetti - Any pasta shape cooked til al dente will be delicious with this recipe. Use the best quality pasta you can find!
    • Olive Oil
    • Unsalted Butter
    • Garlic - miced
    • Salt
    • Black Pepper
    • Red Pepper Flakes - for a little bit of a kick
    • Lemon Juice - fresh lemon juice is preferred
    • Lemon Zest - don't skip this!
    • Parmesan Cheese - grated
    • Italian Parsley - fresh parsley gives this dish a burst of freshness!
    lemon butter pasta ingredients

    Directions

    Let's make this simple pasta recipe together!

    Step 1

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Check the package instructions if you're not sure how long to cook. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain. Set spaghetti aside.

    pasta cooking in boiling water

    Step 2

    While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When butter is melted, garlic, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

    garlic and spices cooking in oil

    Step 3

    Add lemon juice and lemon zest to the large pan. Reduce heat to low.

    pasta with cheese and parsley

    Step 4

    Add cooked pasta and reserved starchy pasta water. Toss until evenly coated with sauce. Top with grated parmesan and Italian parsley and serve.

    lemon butter pasta in a skillet

    Expert Tips and Tricks

    Here are some expert tips to make this delicious recipe perfect.

    Reserve Pasta Water - Don't skip reserving pasta water! This step is crucial and helps bring the garlic lemon butter pasta sauce together with the pasta.

    Complete the Meal - Complete the meal with an arugula salad and a glass of white wine!

    Utilize Leftovers - Use leftovers for meal prep. Add grilled chicken and a handful of spinach or arugula for a delicious prepared lunch for the entire family!

    lemon garlic butter sauce with pasta

    Kitchen Equipment

    Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.

    Large Skillet - You'll want a high quality large skillet with enough room to make the sauce and add the pasta.

    Pasta Bowl - I love serving pasta in good quality pasta bowls. They're perfect for a variety of dishes, so they're super versatile!

    Spaghetti Noodles - Buying quality pasta online is so easy. This spaghetti is super high quality and you can have it delivered straight to your house!

    lemon garlic butter pasta

    Recipe Substitutions/Variations

    Here are some common recipe substitutions and variations for this easy recipe.

    Pasta Shape - Substitute the pasta shape. Angel hair pasta, linguine, or any other type of pasta will work in this recipe. You can also use gluten free pasta or whole wheat pasta in this recipe. 

    Add Protein - Add chicken or shrimp for extra protein and extra flavor! Or, use our chicken limone recipe and pair both together!

    Add Cream - You can add cream to this lemon garlic pasta to make it a more creamy pasta. Add ½ cup of cream to the sauce before you add to the pasta and mix well.

    pasta with cheese in a skillet

    What To Serve With

    Here are some suggestion on what to serve this garlic lemon pasta with:

    • Chicken Limone
    • Spinach Stuffed Salmon
    • Lemon Pepper Shrimp
    • Pan Fried Sea Bass
    • Marinated Mozzarella Balls
    • Simple Charcuterie Board
    • Lemon Goat Cheese Tart
    • Peach Panzanella Salad

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is lemon butter sauce made of?

    This lemon butter sauce has lemon juice and zest, olive oil, butter, garlic, red pepper flakes, and parsley. It's super flavorful!

    What is pasta al limone?

    Pasta al limone is a delicious and easy pasta dish that contains lemon juice and zest, olive oil, and butter for a bright and lemony pasta.

    How do you reheat lemon pasta?

    The best way to reheat this lemon pasta recipe is to heat in a skillet with a little olive oil over low heat until warm.

    lemon butter pasta

    Recipe Storage and Reheating

    Here are storage and reheating instructions for this recipe.

    Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight continuer and eat leftovers within 4-5 days.

    Freezer Storage: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container and keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as instructed below.

    Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to heat in a skillet with a little olive oil over low heat until warm.

    Other Recipes to Try

    Check out some of our other delicious weeknight dinners!

    • Italian Sausage Soup
    • Pan Seared Scallops
    • Easy Baked Chicken Thighs
    • Lemon Pepper Salmon

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave us a star rating below! Plus, find us on Instagram and Pinterest.

    Lemon Butter Pasta

    You'll love this Lemon Butter Pasta Recipe! With a lemon butter pasta sauce, perfectly cooked spaghetti, and plenty of cheese, each bite of this easy pasta dish is so delicious!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 0 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 306 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 lb Spaghetti
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • Zest of 1 lemon
    • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • ½ cup chopped Italian parsley

    Instructions
     

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain. Set spaghetti aside.
    • While spaghetti is cooking, heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When butter is melted, garlic, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
    • Add lemon juice and lemon zest to the pan. Reduce heat to low.
    • Add cooked spaghetti and reserved pasta water. Toss until evenly coated with sauce. Top with grated parmesan and Italian parsley and serve.
    Keyword Lemon Butter Pasta

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Megan Weimer says

      June 16, 2022 at 8:32 pm

      5 stars
      I made this recipe for dinner and it was so good! Super easy weeknight meal too.

      Reply
      • Christina Musgrave says

        June 17, 2022 at 1:09 pm

        Thanks Megan! So happy you enjoyed the recipe!

        Reply
    2. Theodore says

      June 21, 2022 at 3:18 am

      just found you tonite
      luving the Site so far..
      great format..
      dish sound soooo delish and seem simple to make with ingredient I HF ave on hand... I forwarded t you site to my Foodie Friend ... she liking what she sees .....
      looking forward to trying a dish are two tomorrow ..
      luv it
      thankful I found you ..

      fyi accident 2+ years ago ... change my life style...fairly new to cooking ...
      Friends n Family luvin my new hobby ....
      Theodore

      Reply
      • Christina Musgrave says

        June 22, 2022 at 11:33 am

        Thanks Theodore, so happy you're here! Happy cooking!

        Reply
    3. Amber Coschigano says

      June 21, 2022 at 8:26 pm

      I just made this tonight and we loved it. I subbed basil for parsley but followed everything else. Thank you for sharing this with us.

      Reply
      • Christina Musgrave says

        June 22, 2022 at 11:34 am

        Thanks Amber! So happy you liked the recipe!

        Reply
    4. Wendy says

      June 22, 2022 at 3:23 am

      Do you use freshly grated Parmesan or the bottled kind?

      Reply
      • Christina Musgrave says

        June 22, 2022 at 11:34 am

        Hi Wendy! I recommend using freshly grated Parmesan cheese if you can.

        Reply
    5. Kim says

      June 22, 2022 at 7:50 pm

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner this evening and it was absolutely delicious. I added a few mushrooms and fresh spinach to mix. This will definitely be a go to meal.

      Reply
      • Christina Musgrave says

        June 23, 2022 at 12:52 pm

        Thanks for your review, Kim! So happy you enjoyed the recipe. Mushrooms and spinach sound like a delicious addition!

        Reply
    6. Elizabeth says

      June 25, 2022 at 5:05 am

      I like to "Pin" most of what I find online. I don't see a way to do that on your site. Am I missing something?
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Christina Musgrave says

        June 27, 2022 at 9:09 pm

        Hi Elizabeth! You can pin using the 'Pin' button under the title to the right. You can pick any image to pin from the blog post!

        Reply
    7. Joy Noonan says

      June 26, 2022 at 8:30 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely fabulous!!

      Reply
      • Christina Musgrave says

        June 27, 2022 at 9:07 pm

        Thanks Joy! So happy you liked the recipe!

        Reply
    8. Elizabeth says

      June 30, 2022 at 1:51 pm

      Delicious! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Christina Musgrave says

        June 30, 2022 at 2:31 pm

        Glad you enjoyed the recipe, Elizabeth! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Rhonda says

      July 10, 2022 at 6:22 pm

      What do you recommend pairing this with a meat or fish? And wine?

      Reply
      • Christina Musgrave says

        July 10, 2022 at 7:10 pm

        Hi Rhonda! This would be great paired with grilled chicken or shrimp. And a white wine like Sauv Blanc or Chardonnay would be delicious. Happy cooking!

        Reply

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