One-Pot Lemon and Garlic Pasta
Quick and vibrant pasta with fresh lemon, garlic, and Parmesan. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs spaghetti, olive oil, garlic 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.
Ingredients
- 8 oz spaghetti
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh basil
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the 8 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the 4 cloves garlic (minced) and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, avoiding browning.
- Step 3: Stir in the 1/2 cup vegetable broth and 2 tbsp lemon juice, then add the drained spaghetti and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Toss for 1-2 minutes until sauce coats pasta, adding reserved pasta water as needed to thin.
- Step 4: Season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Garnish with 2 tbsp fresh basil (chopped) and serve immediately.
