Golden Garlic & Lemon Pasta with Crispy Toppings

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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 restaurant-quality pasta that achieves perfection through precise timing and fresh ingredients, featuring al dente spaghetti coated in a velvety garlic-herb sauce. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs spaghetti, unsalted butter, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 602 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: 15 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 602 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring 6 quarts of well-salted water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8 minutes until al dente, then drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Step 2: Melt 2 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Add drained spaghetti to skillet with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Toss vigorously for 2 minutes until sauce thickens and coats every strand.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, then serve immediately with extra Parmesan for garnish.

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