Garlic Lemon Pasta (One Pot)
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Quick, easy, creamy lemon pasta recipe, homemade with simple ingredients in one pot over stovetop in 30 minutes. Loaded with garlic, butter and cheese!
I love using lemon in recipes. it gives it such a strong zesty flavor punch, as can be seen in this Creamy Lemon Garlic Chicken (One Pot) and this Lemon Pepper Chicken (One Pot). The lemon flavor in today’s dish comes from lemon zest and fresh lemon juice that really makes it so delicious!
How to make lemon pasta from scratch?
- Saute ginger and garlic- In some butter until fragrant.
- Add water, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper, spaghetti- Mix until combined.
- Cook– Until liquid is reduced and pasta is cooked through.
- Add cheese- This includes cream cheese and parmesan cheese.
- Enjoy– Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon slices and dig in!
What sides to serve with creamy garlic lemon pasta recipe?
Bread is a classic side. Try crusty bread, garlic bread, cheesy breadsticks, soft dinner rolls or Bruschetta (One Pan).
Roasted vegetables make a great side dish. My favorite is these Oven Roasted Vegetables (One Pan).
To make a very filling meal, serve alongside soup. I suggest one of these: Italian Wedding Soup (One Pot) or Carrot Ginger Soup (One Pot) or Roasted Red Pepper Soup (One Pot).
Salads are always a popular side. Try this Cucumber Onion Salad (One Bowl) or these Marinated Tomatoes (One Bowl).
Lemon butter sauce
Here is my family’s lemon sauce that can be used in so many other ways. I used a modified version of this sauce in the recipe card below.
- Heat 1/4 cup butter in a nonstick pot.
- Then, add 1 clove garlic (finely minced), 1 tbsp lemon zest and saute until just fragrant.
- Add 1/4 cup lemon juice and cornstarch slurry (1 cup water or broth mixed with 1.5 tbsp cornstarch).
- Whisk everything together and let it cook until sauce becomes smooth and thick.
For lemon cream sauce, you can mix in some heavy cream at the end.
This can be used immediately or it can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Variations
Lemon chicken pasta– Mix in some shredded rotisserie chicken at the end.
Lemon garlic shrimp pasta– Mix in some sauteed shrimps at the end.
Garnish options- Lemon slices, crumbled bacon, fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, thyme, chives e.t.c.
Add other cheeses- I used cream cheese and parmesan but you can also use ricotta, feta, mozzarella or anything else you like.
Make it spicy– Add some red chili flakes.
Add vegetables– Such as a bag of mixed frozen veggies.
Add seasoning blends– Such as Italian seasoning.
Storage
Refrigerate– In a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Freeze– I don’t recommended freezing leftovers because pasta does not thaw well and the texture is different.
Reheat– In the microwave.
Tips and Techniques
How to make pasta sauce thicker? Let it cook uncovered until excess liquid is absorbed or evaporated.
How to make pasta thinner? Add more water until you reach the desired consistency.
Broth vs. Water- Either can be used. Obviously broth would give it more flavor. Make sure it’s low sodium.
Use unsalted butter– Because this prevents the meal from becoming too salty.
Adjust quantity of lemon juice and lemon zest- This is based on your preference. Add more for a stronger zesty flavor and add less for a milder flavor.
Use full fat cheeses– Because this creates the richest and creamiest results.
Stir often– Because this prevents the pasta from clumping.
Use a non-stick pot– Because it prevents the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot and burning.
Use fresh lemon juice– It tastes so much better and fresher than the bottled juice.
Don’t omit lemon zest- Even though it’s a small quantity, it adds a lot of flavor!
More One Pot Pasta Recipes
One Pot Lemon Pasta
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Butter, Unsalted
- 1-2 cloves Garlic, Finely minced
- 1 tsp Ginger , Finely grated (Optional), Can also use 1/2 tsp Ginger powder instead
- 4 cups Water
- 1/4 cup Lemon juice, Freshly squeezed
- 1 tbsp Lemon zest
- Salt, To taste
- Pepper, To taste
- 16 oz. Spaghetti
- 1/2 cup Cream cheese, Full fat
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, Full fat
- 1-2 tbsp Parsley, Fresh, Roughly chopped, For garnish
Instructions
- Heat butter in a large nonstick pot over medium-high heat until melted.
- Add garlic, ginger and saute for a few seconds until fragrant. Don't let it burn!
- Add water, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper, and mix everything together.
- Add the spaghetti and mix again.
- Lower the heat to medium and cook without cover until the water is almost evaporated. Be sure to stir often.
- When pasta is cooked, add cream cheese and mix together.
- Remove pot from heat and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.
- Garnish with parsley and some lemon slices. Enjoy!
Notes
- If the pasta is not cooked through, add a little more water and cook for a bit longer.
- In the pictures above, I used less cheese but I prefer it with the amount listed above.
- Read all my tips above.
- Tastes best when served immediately but leftovers can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated in the microwave.
