Lemon-Asparagus Pasta

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-15 · Updated 2026-04-15

A vibrant pasta dish featuring tender asparagus and zesty lemon in a simple olive oil sauce, finished with fresh Parmesan. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 25 minutes pairs spaghetti, asparagus, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 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.

Ingredients

• 12 oz spaghetti
• 12 oz asparagus
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
2. Step 2: While the pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to brown.
3. Step 3: Add 12 oz trimmed and cut asparagus pieces to the skillet and cook for 4 minutes until crisp-tender.
4. Step 4: Squeeze juice from 1 lemon into the skillet and add 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and combined.
5. Step 5: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water and toss vigorously for 1 minute until the sauce coats every strand.