20-Minute Creamy Lemon Pasta
A quick, restaurant-worthy pasta dish with zesty lemon, creamy sauce, and perfect comfort. Ready in 20 minutes, this bright and balanced meal is ideal for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 20
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
8 oz (225g) pasta of choice
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp lemon zest
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil
Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente
Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water then drain pasta
In a large pan, sauté garlic in olive oil until fragrant
Add butter and let melt
Stir in heavy cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest
Mix in Parmesan cheese until creamy
Season with salt and pepper
Add drained pasta and 1/2 cup reserved cooking water
Toss to coat evenly
Cook for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens and coats noodles
Garnish with parsley if using
Notes
For a vegan version, use dairy-free milk or olive oil instead of butter
Adjust lemon juice to taste
Parmesan substitute: nutritional yeast + vegan cheese blend (if avoiding animal products)
Store in airtight containers for up to 3 days
Nutrition
- Serving Size: One bowl (approx 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Find it online: https://paulakitchen.com/20-minute-creamy-lemon-pasta/