Simple Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Parmesan and Basil

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 drafted and published.

A light and refreshing pasta dish featuring lemon zest, garlic, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese for an easy weeknight meal. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe (vegetarian), ready in about 17 minutes, pairs spaghetti, salt, olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 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: 5 min Cook: 12 min Serves 4 Italian cuisine 400 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 tbsp salt and 12 oz spaghetti. Cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente, stirring occasionally. Reserve 1 cup pasta water and drain the pasta.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 4 thinly sliced garlic cloves and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and just beginning to turn golden but not burnt.
  3. Step 3: Add 1 tbsp lemon zest and 2 tbsp lemon juice to the skillet, stirring to combine. Cook for 30 seconds.
  4. Step 4: Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil. Toss well to coat, adding reserved pasta water 1/4 cup at a time if needed to loosen the sauce.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and creamy. Serve immediately.

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