Creamy Lemon Pasta
A quick and easy restaurant-style creamy lemon pasta dish perfect for busy weeknights. This recipe balances bright citrus with a silky Parmesan-cream sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 20 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz pasta
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt (optional, for a lighter sauce)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions in a large pot. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Pour in heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- If using, whisk in Greek yogurt until combined.
- Stir in lemon juice and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat with the sauce. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
- For added protein, you can add cooked chicken or shrimp to the pasta.
- Adjust lemon juice and zest to your preference.
- For a dairy-free option, use full-fat coconut milk instead of heavy cream and a dairy-free Parmesan alternative.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 65g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Find it online: https://www.unfoldrecipes.com/creamy-lemon-pasta/