Lemon-Basil Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Parmesan

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.

Al dente pasta tossed in a bright lemon and fresh basil sauce, studded with chewy sun-dried tomatoes and finished with grated Parmesan cheese. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 22 minutes, pairs spaghetti pasta, olive oil, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 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: 12 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 420 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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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. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain the pasta.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 4 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1 tsp lemon zest, and 2 tbsp lemon juice, cooking for 1 minute to warm the tomatoes.
  4. Step 4: Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, 1 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Toss vigorously for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and evenly distributed. Serve immediately.

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