• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Toasty Kitchen

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • FAQ
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • FAQ
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • FAQ
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Pasta

    Lemon Garlic Pasta

    Published: May 4, 2023 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 861 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article.

    Jump to Recipe

    Lemon garlic pasta is a simple pasta dish that's perfect for busy weeknights. Lemon zest, sauteed garlic, and parmesan cheese add big flavor to this 20 minute meal.

    A saute pan filled with lemon garlic pasta topped with parmesan cheese.

    Looking for more quick dinner ideas? If you love making simple pasta recipes like spaghetti aglio e olio, you'll want to give this version a try. Lemon garlic pasta is made with just a handful of ingredients and can be ready in about 20 minutes!

    First, you'll cook your favorite pasta to al dente - I used fettuccine, but spaghetti or linguine make great alternatives. Then, you'll toss the pasta in sauteed garlic and olive oil, a little pasta water, plus lemon zest and juice. Top it off with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese and it's ready to serve.

    Make a batch of lemon garlic pasta for a quick weeknight meal or lunch. It pairs well with a side salad and some garlic bread, or your favorite protein.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    Ingredients on a counter top.
    • Pasta - Feel free to use your favorite pasta shape in this recipe. Long pasta works best. I used fettuccine because it's what I had on hand, but spaghetti, linguine, or angel hair are other great choices.
    • Olive oil - Used to sauté the garlic and coat the pasta. I recommend using a quality olive oil (or other cooking oil) with a flavor you enjoy. Since we're using so few ingredients in this recipe, it's important that they're flavorful and good quality.
    • Garlic - Adds flavor to your pasta dish. I do not recommend omitting the garlic as it's a main ingredient in this recipe.
    • Lemon - We'll be zesting and juicing one lemon for this recipe. Lemon adds a bright, fresh citrus flavor to your pasta.
    • Salt and pepper - Enhance the flavor of your pasta.
    • Parsley - Adds a touch of color to your pasta dish as well as a mild, peppery flavor.
    • Parmesan cheese - I highly recommend grating your parmesan cheese fresh from a block instead of using pre-grated cheese (especially parmesan-style cheese from a green canister). Pre-shredded cheeses can clump up and add a grainy texture to your dish.

    Reserving pasta water

    Making lemon garlic pasta in a saute pan.

    This recipe calls for a bit of reserved pasta water to add in a later step. Why? Pasta water contains leftover starches and salt after your pasta has finished cooking. Adding this water to your pasta creates a silky, creamy texture and also adds a bit of flavor.

    To reserve pasta water, wait until your pasta is cooked to al dente. Carefully ladle out a cup of pasta water and transfer to a liquid measuring cup before draining your pasta. Or, use tongs or a pasta fork to remove the pasta from the water, then ladle out as much pasta water as you'd like.

    Variations

    Chicken - Add a handful of shredded rotisserie chicken or sliced sauteed chicken breast.

    Shrimp - Add garlic butter shrimp or grilled shrimp.

    Butter - Add a tablespoon or two of butter to your pasta with the lemon zest for extra creaminess and flavor.

    Red pepper flakes - Add a pinch of red pepper flakes while sautéing your garlic for a hint of heat.

    Fresh herbs - Add more fresh herbs along with the parsley, like basil and chives.

    Steamed veggies - This is the perfect dish to toss in some steamed veggies like broccoli or asparagus.

    Close up of fettuccine noodles topped with parmesan in a pan.

    What to serve with lemon garlic pasta

    Want to serve lemon garlic pasta as a side dish or as part of a light lunch? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

    • Garlic butter shrimp
    • Strawberry walnut salad
    • Grilled lemon pepper chicken
    • Grilled broccolini
    • Baked parmesan crusted chicken tenders
    • Freezer garlic bread

    Recommended

    • Spaghetti aglio e olio recipe.
      Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (Spaghetti with garlic and oil)
    • Fettuccine coated in alfredo sauce in a pan.
      Easy Homemade Alfredo Sauce
    • Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta
    • Saute pan with a fork swirling spaghetti.
      Spaghetti with Creamy Zucchini Sauce

    📖 Recipe

    A saute pan filled with lemon garlic pasta topped with parmesan cheese.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 review

    Lemon Garlic Pasta

    Lemon garlic pasta is a simple pasta dish that's perfect for busy weeknights. Lemon zest, sauteed garlic, and parmesan cheese add big flavor to this 20 minute meal.
    Prep Time5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time15 minutes minutes
    Total Time20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 497kcal
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • 12 ounces dried pasta, like spaghetti or fettuccine
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 4 cloves garlic, slivered
    • ½ cup pasta water
    • 1 lemon, juiced and zested
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon pepper
    • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated

    Instructions

    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions. Reserve at least ½ cup of the pasta water and set aside for a later step.
    • Meanwhile, add olive oil to a sauté pan over medium heat. Add slivered garlic and cook until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes. Add cooked pasta and reserved pasta water to pan and toss pasta until it looks creamy and coated. Remove from heat.
    • Add lemon zest, juice, parsley, salt, and pepper. Toss pasta until evenly combined.
    • Transfer pasta to serving plates, top with parmesan cheese, and serve.

    Equipment Recommendations

    • Stainless Steel 8-Quart Stock Pot
    • Stainless Steel Saute Pan
    • Microplane Zester
    • Lemon Juicer

    Notes

    • Leftover pasta will keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days in a tightly sealed container. Leftovers can be served cold or warm. Emulsified sauce may break upon reheating.
    • Variations: add cooked shrimp, chicken, butter, fresh herbs like basil and chives, or steamed veggies to your pasta as desired. 
    • I do not recommend tossing the cheese into the pasta because the acidity of the lemon can cause it to clump.

    Nutrition Estimate

    Serving: 3ounces of pasta | Calories: 497kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 500mg | Potassium: 263mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 273IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 2mg
    Course: Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American

    More Pasta Recipes

    • Spoonful of ravioli casserole.
      Ravioli Casserole
    • A wooden server scooping a serving of sweet noodle kugel from a casserole dish.
      Sweet Noodle Kugel
    • Tortellini and spinach tossed in basil pesto in a white bowl.
      Pesto Tortellini
    • White bowl filled with spinach, pasta, and veggies.
      Greek Spinach Pasta Salad

    Share this post:

    Subscribe

    Get our newest recipes delivered to your inbox for free!

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Heather of The Toasty Kitchen

    Hi, I'm Heather of The Toasty Kitchen. I love cooking with real, unfussy ingredients, and I want to help you make homemade meals with ease.

    More about me →

    Summer recipes

    • Grilled asparagus topped with melted parmesan cheese on a white serving plate.
      Grilled Asparagus in Foil
    • A serving bowl filled with southern coleslaw.
      Southern Coleslaw
    • Two grilled chicken tacos in corn tortillas on a white plate.
      Grilled Chicken Tacos (Tacos de Pollo Asado)
    • Pieces of Mexican grilled chicken on a white serving plate with fresh cilantro.
      Mexican Grilled Chicken (Pollo Asado)

    Reader Favorites

    • A spoon scooping raspberry sauce from a white bowl.
      Raspberry Sauce For Cheesecake
    • Cooked steak tips in a cast iron pan.
      Garlic Butter & Herb Sirloin Tips
    • Red spatula covered in white frosting.
      Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
    • Graham crackers dipped in a bowl of strawberry cheesecake dip.
      Strawberry Cheesecake Dip

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • FAQ
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    As seen in

    logos of publications The Toasty Kitchen has been published in.

    Copyright © 2023 The Toasty Kitchen®