Lemon-Herb Garlic Butter Pasta

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 drafted and published.

A vibrant, restaurant-quality pasta dish with tender spaghetti coated in a fragrant garlic-herb sauce, brightened by lemon zest and finished with a rich butter finish. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 27 minutes, pairs Spaghetti, Unsalted butter, Extra-virgin olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 calories and feeds 2, 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: 12 min Cook: 15 min Serves 2 Italian cuisine 580 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, adding 1 teaspoon salt. Cook 8 oz spaghetti until al dente (8-10 minutes), then reserve 1/4 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 5 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and sauté for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
  3. Step 3: Add 3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley to the skillet, stirring for 30 seconds until vibrant green and aromatic.
  4. Step 4: Toss the drained spaghetti into the skillet with 1/4 cup reserved pasta water, stirring for 1 minute until the sauce thickens and clings to the pasta.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 3 tablespoons melted butter, the zest of 1 lemon, and a pinch of salt until the sauce glistens and coats the spaghetti evenly.

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