Lemon Garlic Pasta
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Lemon garlic pasta is an easy weeknight dinner made with simple ingredients! You need five ingredients and 20 minutes to make this buttery lemon pasta!

Lemon garlic pasta is my favorite easy dinner recipe. While it’s typically seen as a side, I love indulging in it as a complete meal when I’m home alone. You can pair it with something heartier like ciambotta for a perfect summer combo.
This recipe shines with its garlic—more is always better, right? If you’re into baking, serve it with Nadiya Hussan’s olive and rosemary crown bread for a Mediterranean touch. For variety, toss in some olives or white wine for extra depth!
Lemon Garlic Pasta
Pasta al Limone Recipe
EASE: Easy!
CUISINE: Italian
COURSE: Primo Piatto (first course)
TIME: 20 Minutes
DIET: Vegan, Diary-Free and Gluten-Free Optional
What Is Lemon Garlic Pasta?
Lemon garlic pasta (pasta al limone) is a classic Southern Italian primo piatto (first course) recipe. The recipe uses simple everyday ingredients and techniques to create a flavorful pasta dish. You need pasta, butter, lemon, parmesan cheese, and garlic. How is that for simple?
The secret to making the perfect sauce is mixing starchy pasta water with butter and lemon. This creates a creamy sauce without the cream. If you want this recipe to be creamier, add milk, cream, or coconut cream.
Ingredients

- Pasta – Traditionally, this recipe is made with long, straight noodles, like spaghetti. In northern Italy, a variation is made with tagliatelle pasta (tagliatelle al limone.)
- Butter – You can use traditional butter or plant-based butter. Some people also use olive oil. However, note that butter helps make the sauce creamy, and olive oil does not.
- Garlic – I recommend using a minimum of five cloves. For extra flavor, use roasted garlic!
- Lemon – Always use fresh lemon, never the bottle.
- Cheese: Use traditional grated parmesan.
Diet Modfcations
Gluten Free – Substiatue with your favorite Gluten Free Pasta.
Vegan – Substitute with plant based butter and dairy free cheese. For a creamy option, use coconut cream.
See the recipe card for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Instructions
Step One: Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until just before al dente.
- Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
Tip: Less water makes a starchier pasta water, which makes a creamier sauce!

Step Two: Make the Lemon Sauce
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic (if using) and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the lemon juice, zest, and Parmesan. Gradually whisk 1 cup of reserved pasta water until a smooth sauce forms.

Step Three: Toss with Pasta:
- Add the slightly undercooked pasta to the sauce, allowing it to absorb the lemon butter and finish cooking.
- If adding cream, lower the heat once the pasta is cooked. Stir in the cream for one to two minutes.

Step Four: Garnish and Serve
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Garnish with fresh Parmesan, basil and lemon wedges before serving. (Optional)

Watch Instead
Personalize This Recipe
What I love about this recipe is how versatile it is. Sometimes, I enjoy it as is. But other times, I like to add more flavor. The options are endless. Below are a few of my suggestions. Lemon butter garlic pasta is delicious with one or all of them!
- Creamy: If you want to make this recipe creamier, add milk or cream. Vegans, you can add dairy-free/plant-based milk or canned coconut milk.
- Salty: This dish is popular with capers (think lemon caper sauce). I sometimes add Spanish olives. They strike the right blend of Mediterranean without being overbearing.
- Spicy: It is popular in the US to add red chile pepper flakes. It adds a slight amount of spice.
- Mediterranean Vegetables: You can mix in artichokes, asparagus, mushrooms, peas, or sun-dried tomatoes for additional flavor.
- White Wine: I like to add 1/4 cup of white wine. It elevates the flavor. This is my favorite addition!

Pairings Suggestions
- Bread: I love this recipe with homemade yeast bread.
- Salad: Round out the dinner with a salad. I recommend my Chick-fil-A kale crunch copycat salad recipe.
- Vegetables: Mix vegetables with the pasta or serve them on the side. I generally stay simple and serve this with oven-roasted purple cauliflower. It adds flavor, veggies, and color!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you tried this lemon garlic pasta or any other recipe on my blog, leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below.

Lemon Garlic Pasta
Equipment
- 1 microplane
- 1 large skillet
- 1 tongs
- 1 large pot
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340g) spaghetti or your favorite pasta
- 1 cup pasta water
- 2 large lemons zested and juiced
- 4 tbsp (56g) unsalted butter
- ½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream (optional for extra creaminess)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley optional, for garnish
Instructions
Prepare the Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until just before al dente. Reserve 1 cup (240 ml) of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
Make the Lemon Sauce:
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic (if using) and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the lemon juice, zest, and Parmesan. Gradually whisk in one cup of reserved pasta water until a smooth sauce forms.
Toss with Pasta:
- Add the slightly undercooked pasta to the sauce. This step allows the sauce to be absorbed into the pasta. If adding cream, lower the heat once the pasta is cooked. Stirin the cream for one to two minutes.
Garnish and Serve:
- Season with salt, pepper, and extra lemon juice if desired. Garnish with fresh Parmesan and herbs before serving.