Lemon-Herb Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Asparagus
A bright, zesty pasta dish with tender asparagus and fragrant garlic, finished with a lemony cream sauce that clings perfectly to every strand. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 35 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 620 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
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 Lemon
- 1/2 cup Heavy cream
- 1/4 cup Fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- 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.
- Step 2: Trim asparagus spears and cut into 1-inch pieces; in a large skillet, heat 3 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat. Add asparagus and cook for 4-5 minutes until crisp-tender, then remove and set aside.
- Step 3: Add 4 minced garlic cloves to the same skillet and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned; stir in the juice of 1 lemon, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper, then simmer for 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Step 4: Return drained pasta to the skillet along with 2 tbsp reserved pasta water; add 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup chopped parsley, tossing vigorously for 1 minute until the sauce coats the pasta evenly.
- Step 5: Gently fold in the cooked asparagus, stirring until heated through, then serve immediately with extra Parmesan and parsley.








