Description
This Lemon Butter Garlic Pasta is a simple yet flavorful dish combining tender spaghetti with a rich lemon, butter, and garlic sauce. Enhanced by freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley, this recipe offers a bright, zesty twist on classic buttered pasta, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti or any pasta of your choice
Sauce
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1/4 cup pasta cooking water, reserved
Finishing Touches
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, or until fragrant, ensuring it doesn’t burn.
- Add Lemon: Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice, mixing well to combine with the butter and garlic.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss thoroughly to coat it with the lemon butter and garlic mixture.
- Adjust Consistency: Gradually add the reserved pasta water a little at a time, tossing continuously until the pasta reaches your desired consistency.
- Add Parmesan: Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it is melted and coats the pasta completely.
- Season: Season the pasta generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Add Parsley: Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the pasta and give it a final toss to evenly distribute the ingredients.
- Serve: Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese on the side for those who desire more.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water as it helps to loosen the sauce and bind it to the pasta.
- Be careful not to burn the garlic; it should be sautéed just until fragrant.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and melt.
- You can substitute spaghetti with any pasta type like linguine, fettuccine, or penne.
- Garnish can be customized with fresh basil or a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat.
