One-Pot Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Spinach
A bright, herbaceous pasta dish with a simple sauce that comes together in under 30 minutes. This italian-inspired pasta 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 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
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add 8 oz spaghetti, and cook for 8 minutes until al dente, then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add 3 minced garlic cloves, and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to brown the garlic.
- Step 3: Add the drained spaghetti, 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, 1/2 cup vegetable broth, 1 lemon zest, and 1 lemon juice to the skillet, stirring to combine.
- Step 4: Add 2 cups fresh spinach and cook for 2 minutes until wilted, then stir in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Frequently asked questions
How long does One-Pot Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Spinach take to make?
Total time is about 30 minutes (10 min prep + 20 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover One-Pot Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Spinach?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep spaghetti from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in One-Pot Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Spinach?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale One-Pot Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Spinach for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with One-Pot Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Spinach?
Italian pasta like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Perfect for a weeknight dinner. The spinach added a nice touch.
- ★★★★★
This was so easy and delicious! My family loved the lemony flavor.
- ★★★★☆
Cooked it as directed, but it took longer than expected to reduce the sauce. Still tasty though.
Related recipes
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
