All-That-You-Need Lemon Herb Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-05 · Updated 2026-04-05

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A simple yet elegant one-pan pasta with all the fresh lemon and herb elements that make weeknight dinners special. This Italian-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs fusilli pasta, olive oil, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 580 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz fusilli pasta
3 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves, minced garlic
1, zested and juiced (2 tbsp juice) fresh lemon
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup, toasted pine nuts
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Cook fusilli in a large pot of salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until al dente; reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
Step 3: Add drained pasta to skillet with 1/4 cup reserved pasta water, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, and basil. Toss vigorously for 2 minutes until sauce clings to pasta and becomes glossy.
Step 4: Stir in toasted pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Add more pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
Step 5: Serve immediately, garnished with extra parsley and lemon zest.