The Best Creamy Lemon Pasta
A vibrant, restaurant-quality pasta dish with a silky lemon-herb sauce that coats every strand perfectly. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 35 minutes pairs spaghetti, lemon, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 680 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
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 2 lemon
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup fresh basil
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook 12 oz spaghetti until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, zest 1 lemon and juice both lemons. Mince 3 garlic cloves and chop 1/4 cup basil. Melt 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, add garlic, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Step 3: Stir in 3 tbsp butter, 1 cup heavy cream, and lemon zest. Simmer gently for 3 minutes until slightly thickened, then remove from heat. Add 3/4 cup Parmesan and whisk until melted and smooth.
- Step 4: Toss drained spaghetti into the sauce with 1/4 cup reserved pasta water, adding more water as needed until sauce coats strands. Stir in lemon juice and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper until combined and glossy.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does The Best Creamy Lemon Pasta take to make?
Total time is about 35 minutes (15 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 The Best Creamy Lemon Pasta?
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 The Best Creamy Lemon Pasta?
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 The Best Creamy Lemon Pasta 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 The Best Creamy Lemon Pasta?
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
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
- ★★★★☆
Solid recipe. Not groundbreaking but definitely making it again.
- ★★★☆☆
Okay for a quick meal. I've had better pasta dishes though.
