This easy Italian lemon butter pasta is also known as pasta al limone. It is easy to make,delicious with a tangy flavour. It is my favourite to go pasta dish on those lazy or busy evenings. With just a few ingredients, your butter lemon pasta dish will be ready in 10 minutes.
What I love about homemade meals is that, you can Customise your recipes to your liking. You can customize this pasta with lemon butter. For instance, you can add some veggies to make a vegan creamy lemon pasta. You can also add shrimps, chicken, salmon and any other addition that you’d prefer.
Ingredients for lemon butter pasta recipe
These are the ingredients you’ll require
- Pasta: Any type of pasta can be used, such as spaghetti, linguine, fettuccine, or penne.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is usually preferred for better control over the dish’s saltiness.
- Lemon zest: The outer peel of the lemon, grated or thinly peeled, to add intense lemon flavor.
- Garlic: Minced or thinly sliced garlic cloves add depth of flavor to the sauce.
- Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds brightness and acidity to the dish.
- Garlic: Minced or thinly sliced garlic cloves add depth of flavor to the sauce.
- Salt and pepper: Ingredients that are added to food to make it taste better
- Parmesan cheese (optional): Grated Parmesan cheese can be added for extra richness and flavor.
- Fresh herbs (optional): Chopped fresh parsley or basil can be sprinkled on top for freshness and color.
What you’ll love about this lemon butter garlic pasta sauce
- Easy to make: This recipe takes less than 20 minutes to make making it a perfect dish for those lazy or busy weeknights.
- Flavorful: The combination of lemon,butter and garlic gives it a zesty and garlicky taste that excites your taste buds.
- Versatile: This dish can be customised. You can add permesan cheese, fresh herbs, veggies and any other ingredient you may wish to add.
Substitutions and additions
- If you have gluten sensitivities, you can opt to use gluten-free pasta.
- You can also substitute the butter with a diary free option such as olive or coconut oil.
- Add a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half to the sauce for a richer, creamier version of the dish to make creamy lemon butter pasta.
- Skip the Parmesan cheese or use a vegetarian-friendly alternative to make this dish vegetarian.
How to make butter lemon pasta at home
Making pasta with lemon butter is very easy. Wash and prep your ingredients. Zest the lemons, mince garlic and finely chop your herbs.
First start by gathering your ingredients and measure them.
In a large cooking pot add about 5 cups of water and boil it. Add a pinch of salt. Add your favorite pasta and cook as per the instructions on the package until Al dente. Put a cup of pasta water aside. Strain the cooked pasta and set aside.
It’s time to prepare the lemon garlic pasta sauce. In another cooking pot, melt about 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute. Add the lemon zest and juice and cook for about 2 minutes to allow the flavours to mix. Add the preboiled pasta into the sauce and stir to combine. You can also add the pasta water for you desired consistency.
Optionally garnish your lemon butter pasta with pepper or permesan cheese and toss to mix. Serve in a plate and garnish with a freshly chopped parsley. Bon appetit!
Tips for making the best creamy lemon butter garlic pasta recipe
- Use fresh lemons and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Avoid bottled lemons.
- Select the best pasta. Opt for long, sturdy pasta shapes like spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine. These varieties work well with creamy sauces and allow the flavors to cling to the strands.
- Don’t Overcook the Garlic: Garlic adds depth of flavor to the dish, but be careful not to overcook it, as it can turn bitter. Sauté the minced garlic just until fragrant, being mindful not to let it brown.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining the cooked pasta, reserve a cup of the starchy pasta water. This water helps to emulsify the sauce, making it creamy and ensuring it coats the pasta evenly.
Recipe FAQs
If the sauce is too thick, you can thin it out by adding a splash of the reserved pasta water.
Unsalted butter is the best option. However, you can used salted butter but be mindful of the additional salt
Long pasta varieties like spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine are traditional choices, you can experiment with different shapes like penne or bowtie pasta
While you can freeze Lemon Butter Garlic Pasta, the texture of the pasta may change slightly upon thawing. If freezing, do so without the Parmesan cheese and garnishes.
You can make it vegan friendly by using vegetarian-friendly pasta and omit any meat or seafood additions.
Easy Lemon Butter Pasta recipe
Easy Italian Lemom Butter Pasta Recipe(Pasta al Limone)
Course: Dinner, LunchCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Beginner1
servings5
minutes7
minutes648
kcal12
minutesDelicious zesty Italian lemon butter garlic pasta.
Ingredients
8 ounces of spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
Zest of one lemon
Juice of one lemon
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to make the pasta taste better.
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Directions
- Make the Pasta: Make Pasta: Fill a big pot with salted water and heat it until it boils. Put the pasta in and cook it following the directions on the package until it’s just right. Once cooked, drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water, and set aside.
- Make the Lemon Butter Garlic Sauce: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly until fragrant.
- Add Lemon Zest and Juice: Once the garlic is fragrant, add the lemon zest and lemon juice to the skillet. Stir to combine and cook for another 1-2 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- Add Pasta to the Sauce: Add the boiled pasta to the pot with the lemon butter garlic sauce. Toss the pasta until it is well coated in the sauce, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce and help it cling to the pasta.
- Season and Garnish: Season the pasta with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta and toss again until the cheese is melted and incorporated into the sauce.
- Serve: Transfer the pasta to serving plates or bowls. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
- Enjoy: Serve your Lemon Butter Garlic Pasta immediately, and savor each flavorful bite! Pair it with a crisp salad and a glass of chilled white wine for a complete dining experience.
Notes
- Make sure to include the zest from a fresh lemon and squeeze out the juice from the lemon itself.
- Chose the right pasta. The long ones
- Remember to set aside a cup of pasta water.
- Do nit overcook your garlic
Nutritional information
Note: Nutritional information is an estimate provided by an online calculator.
Nutrition Facts
1 servings per container
Serving Size100g
- Amount Per ServingCalories648
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat
73g
113%
- Saturated Fat 46g 230%
- Cholesterol 194mg 65%
- Sodium 579mg 25%
- Potassium 32mg 1%
- Total Carbohydrate
0.7g
1%
- Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
- Sugars 0.3g
- Protein 0.8g 2%
- Calcium 22%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
