Description
This Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for a weeknight dinner. Featuring perfectly cooked spaghetti tossed in a fragrant lemon garlic butter sauce, finished with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, it’s a simple yet delicious meal packed with bright, zesty flavors and a hint of spice.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces of spaghetti or your favorite pasta
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Finishing Touches
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Fill a large pot with water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Cook Pasta: Add the spaghetti or chosen pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water for later use.
- Drain Pasta: Drain the pasta in a colander without rinsing to preserve starches that help the sauce cling better.
- Melt Butter: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat, taking care not to brown it.
- Sauté Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and slightly golden.
- Add Lemon: Stir in the lemon zest and juice, mixing thoroughly to combine flavors.
- Season Sauce: Add red pepper flakes, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste, adjusting the spice level as preferred.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Toss the drained pasta into the skillet with the lemon garlic butter sauce, ensuring each strand is evenly coated.
- Adjust Consistency: Gradually add the reserved pasta water as needed until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
- Add Parmesan: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts and blends well with the sauce.
- Final Seasoning: Taste and adjust seasoning by adding more lemon juice or Parmesan cheese if needed.
- Serve: Twirl the pasta onto plates or into bowls.
- Garnish: Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
- Enjoy: Serve immediately, optionally paired with a fresh green salad or crusty bread.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta water to loosen the sauce and help it adhere better to the pasta.
- Be careful not to brown the butter; melted butter should stay yellow without developing a nutty aroma for this recipe.
- Adjust red pepper flakes based on your preferred spice level.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan for best flavor and melting.
- This dish is best served immediately to enjoy the freshness of the lemon and garlic.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute butter with olive oil and omit Parmesan cheese or use a vegan alternative.
