One-Pot Lemon and Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-18 · Updated 2026-04-18

A bright, zesty pasta dish with garlic, cherry tomatoes, and fresh lemon, ready in 25 minutes. This Italian-inspired one-pot 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 380 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.

Ingredients

• 8 oz spaghetti
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 8 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant—do not brown the garlic.
3. Step 3: Add 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes and 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice to the skillet, stirring to combine and cooking for 2 minutes until tomatoes soften. Add the drained spaghetti and 2 tbsp reserved pasta water, tossing to coat. Stir in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and season with salt and black pepper to taste. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water 1 tbsp at a time until desired consistency is reached.