One-Pot Lemon Garlic Pasta with 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.

A bright, tangy pasta dish with zesty lemon and garlic, finished with creamy Parmesan for a weeknight dinner that comes together in a single pot. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 30 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 450 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: 20 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil in a large pot, adding 1 tablespoon salt. Add 12 ounces spaghetti and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water.
  2. Step 2: Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant and golden (do not brown).
  3. Step 3: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet along with 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons lemon zest, and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Toss for 2 minutes over medium heat until the sauce thickens and coats the pasta strands evenly.
  4. Step 4: Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and combined. Season with salt to taste. Serve immediately.

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