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Quick Creamy Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta

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A quick and easy 15-minute pasta recipe featuring a creamy lemon garlic butter sauce that’s tangy, comforting, and perfect for busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 oz (225 g) spaghetti or your favorite pasta
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
  • 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
  • ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Optional: red pepper flakes
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 8 oz (225 g) of spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup (240 ml) of pasta water before draining.
  2. While the pasta cooks, melt 2 tbsp of unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Pour in 1 cup (240 ml) of heavy cream, stirring to combine. Let it simmer gently for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally until slightly thickened.
  4. Stir in the zest and juice of 1 large lemon.
  5. Lower the heat and whisk in the remaining 2 tbsp butter until melted. Then add ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until smooth and creamy.
  6. Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with about ½ cup (120 ml) of reserved pasta water. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated. Add more pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
  7. Taste and season with salt, freshly ground black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
  8. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top just before serving.

Notes

Keep the heat moderate when sautéing garlic to avoid bitterness. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. For a silkier sauce, briefly blend cream and Parmesan with an immersion blender before tossing with pasta. Adjust lemon juice gradually to balance flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: quick pasta, lemon garlic pasta, creamy pasta, easy dinner, butter pasta, 15-minute meal, weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://daintydine.com/quick-creamy-lemon-garlic-butter-pasta-recipe-easy-15-minute-dinner-idea/