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Quick Creamy Lemon Garlic Parmesan Pasta

A close-up shot of a serving of Creamy Lemon Pasta tossed in a light sauce, topped with fresh parsley and grated cheese.
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Make this bright, velvety lemon pasta in under 20 minutes. It uses fresh lemon, garlic, and Parmesan cheese for a comforting, zesty weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces spaghetti or linguine
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve at least 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
  3. Reduce the heat to low. Pour in the heavy cream and the reserved pasta water. Stir constantly until the mixture begins to simmer gently.
  4. Remove the skillet from the heat. Whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest until the sauce is smooth and coats the back of a spoon. This creates your velvety lemon sauce.
  5. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated in the creamy lemon sauce. Add more pasta water if the sauce seems too thick.
  6. Season with salt and pepper to your taste.
  7. Serve immediately. Garnish each serving with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For a richer sauce, use heavy cream instead of half and half.
  • If you want to add protein, toss in cooked shrimp or shredded rotisserie chicken at the end.
  • Use fresh lemon juice; bottled juice changes the bright flavor profile.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookerycommand.com/creamy-lemon-pasta-20-minute-dinner/