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    Home » Pasta

    Lemon Pasta

    Published: Oct 29, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    Here is a simple lemon pasta recipe perfect for a quick and tasty lunch or dinner.

    It takes just 20 minutes to make this delicious and refreshing pasta dish, and you need only eight simple ingredients.

    Lemon pasta with silver fork
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Tips
    • Questions
    • More pasta recipes
    • More 30-minute meals
    • Recipe

    Check out our best pasta recipe collection!

    Lemon pasta is a quick and simple pasta dish similar to the famous Italian aglio olio, but with the addition of lemon zest and lemon juice to make a zesty lemon sauce.

    The combination of those simple ingredients - the lemon juice and zest, the olive oil, the garlic, and the chili flakes - creates a meal that is simple but incredibly delicious and satisfying.

    You can serve the lemon pasta as is, folding in some freshly grated parmesan cheese, or add spinach for color, flavor, and improved nutrition.

    If you want something easy to cook at home, fresh, and delicious, then you'll love this lemon pasta recipe.

    Lemon Pasta with parmesan

    Ingredients

    Spaghetti and fresh spinach

    Pasta

    Like its big sister, aglio olio, and cousin, cacio e pepe, lemon pasta is best with long-shaped pasta like spaghetti, linguine, bavette, fettuccine, tagliatelle, and angel hair pasta.

    Lemon

    You'll need both the lemon zest and the lemon juice. Organic lemons are preferable since we are eating the zest. We recommend always going for fresh lemon juice instead of bottled lemon juice.

    Remember to save some lemon zest to garnish the pasta.

    Tip: Only zest the yellow peel of the lemon, the white pith can be bitter.

    Olive oil

    If you can, choose a good quality extra virgin olive oil. The quality of the ingredients in this simple lemon pasta recipe makes all the difference.

    Garlic

    Fresh garlic adds plenty of flavor and tang. You can grate, mince, or mash it with a garlic crusher.

    Red pepper flakes

    You can add as many or as few red pepper flakes as you like. If you don't like overly spicy dishes, you can substitute freshly ground black pepper for red pepper flakes.

    Spinach

    We like to add spinach to this dish; they fit right and add a beautiful color.

    You can use fresh and frozen spinach, although fresh spinach keeps its shape better.

    If you don't like spinach, you can keep them out and replace them with fresh herbs, such as a sprinkle of fresh parsley or a few leaves of fresh basil.

    Salt

    We season the pasta, cooking water, and lemon sauce using sea salt.

    Parmesan cheese

    Parmigiano-reggiano or grana padano are the best cheses for this lemon garlic pasta. A sprinkle brings all the other flavors together, adding plenty of umami and flavor.

    If you don't want to add cheese, you can easily keep it out. The pasta will be delicious, nevertheless. Alternatively, you can add a dairy-free parmesan alternative.

    Lemon Pasta with lemon wedge

    Instructions

    Cook the pasta

    Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and stir it.

    Halfway through cooking, add the spinach, stir, and cook until the pasta is very al dente - that's 2 minutes less than what's written on the package instructions.

    Make the lemon sauce while the pasta boils.

    Tip: you'll need about 3 quarts (12 cups or 3 Liters) of water and 1 ½ tablespoons (21 grams) of salt for 12 ounces (340 grams) of pasta.

    spinach and pasta boiling

    Make the sauce

    To a large skillet, add the olive oil, grated garlic, grated lemon zest, and red pepper flakes.

    Warm it up slowly on low heat, then let the ingredients fry gently for 30 to 60 seconds without burning the garlic.

    Turn the heat off, add the lemon juice, and wait for the pasta.

    Tip: Only zest the yellow peel of the lemon, the white pith can be bitter.

    garlic and oil in a skillet

    When the pasta is ready, save one cup of pasta water, drain the pasta and spinach and add them to the lemon sauce.

    Add a ladleful of pasta cooking water and cook on medium heat, stirring often for a short minute.

    pasta and spinach in a skillet

    Add the grated parmesan, turn the heat off, and stir for 30 more seconds until the cheese melts. Taste and adjust for salt; add more reserved pasta water if the pasta gets too dry.

    grated cheese on pasta

    Serve immediately and optionally sprinkle with parmesan cheese and grated lemon zest.

    Lemon Pasta with parmesan

    Serving suggestions

    Lemon pasta is excellent as a quick lunch or a simple and easy dinner for the whole family. Try serving it with one of our delicious vegetable side dishes, such as:

    • Steamed artichokes with a light mayo and salsa verde.
    • Easy carrot salad with raisins and pineapple, a 5-minute side salad
    • Cucumber and tomato salad with Italian vinaigrette, a refreshing green side dish!
    • Brussels sprout salad is perfect for autumn and winter, a raw salad that pairs well with pasta and soups.
    • shaved brussels sprouts salad
      Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
    • steamed artichokes
      Steamed Artichokes
    • Carrot raisin salad
      Carrot Raisin Salad
    • Cucumber tomato salad
      Cucumber Tomato Salad

    Variations

    Creamy pasta al limone

    creamy pasta al limone

    This recipe is straight out of my grandma's recipe notebook. She would make this for my 96-year-old great-grandma when I was growing up, and I'd always manage to steal some from her plate before she would sit down to eat it for lunch at noon.

    You'll love this recipe because it's easy, creamy, and so tasty you'll want to eat it every day.

    Check out our creamy pasta al limone recipe.

    Lemon ricotta pasta (with spinach)

    lemon ricotta pasta with spinach

    Lemon ricotta pasta is a variation of pasta al limone that we always make these days.

    It's a ricotta-based sauce mixed with your favorite seasonal vegetables (we love peas, spinach, and broccoli for this one).

    Like our other pasta recipes, this one is super easy to make and a guaranteed-crowd pleaser.

    Check out our lemon ricotta pasta recipe.

    Storage

    Lemon pasta is best eaten straight after it is made, but if you have some leftovers, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.

    Reheat it in a pan with olive oil, adding water if necessary. Don't reheat it multiple times. Not suitable for freezing.

    Tips

    • Grate the garlic: the garlic should be sliced, minced, or grated as thin as possible so that it will melt in your mouth and its flavor won't be overpowering.
    • Don't burn the garlic: garlic burns fast, so make sure the pan and the oil won't get too hot. Instead, fry it with gentle heat without letting it brown.
    • Undercook the pasta: it is best to undercook it slightly (2 to 4 minutes less than indicated on the package) to finish cooking it in the pan with the sauce.

      This way, the pasta will release some of its starch into the sauce, making it extra creamy and delicious.
    • Reserve pasta cooking water: pasta cooking water is full of starch. Add it to the pasta while you toss it in the pan to make the pasta creamy.

    Questions

    Can I add cream to this spaghetti limone?

    Yes, you can add your favorite type of cream, including heavy cream or dairy-free cream.

    Add the cream after frying the garlic and the lemon zest for 30 seconds, then add ½ teaspoon of salt and let the cream simmer gently with the other ingredients for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.

    Can I replace the spinach?

    Yes, you can replace the spinach with other seasonal vegetables. Try broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, mushrooms, peas, and more.

    For broccoli and cauliflower, cut them into florets and cook them in the same pot as the pasta.

    For other vegetables, you'll need to sauté them separately in a different pan, then add them to the pan with the sauce.

    How do you make pasta creamy without cream?

    The secret to making pasta creamy is to undercook the pasta by 2 to 3 minutes, and finish cooking it in the pan with the sauce while adding some of the cooking water.

    This way, the pasta will release its starch in the pan, making the dish super creamy. Also, the pasta cooking water contains starch from the pasta. Adding it to the sauce will make the sauce creamier.

    More pasta recipes

    If you love quick and easy pasta meals, try one of these 15-min pasta recipes:

    • Garlic and oil pasta: an easy 15-minute pasta recipe
    • Restaurant-like mushroom pasta: a reader favorite and easy veggie-packed pasta
    • Penne all arrabbiata: fiery Italian tomato sauce ready in just 20 minutes
    • Pasta Pomodoro: a pasta recipe with just 6 ingredients and 15 minutes of cooking time
    • Pasta salad with lemon vinaigrette with fresh vegetables is perfect for meal prep and lunch-box meals!
    • Pasta e ceci is an authentic Italian dinner idea that your entire family will love
    • Red pepper pasta with a quick and creamy 20-minute sauce
    • Baked ziti pasta with plant-based meat and tomato-rich sauce
    • vegan mushroom pasta
      Vegan Mushroom Pasta
    • roasted red pepper pasta
      Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
    • garlic and oil pasta aglio olio
      Garlic and Oil Pasta (Spaghetti Aglio e Olio)
    • Baked ziti pasta and fresh basil
      Baked Ziti
    • spaghetti pomodoro or tomato basil pasta
      Spaghetti Pomodoro
    • Arrabbiata in pan
      Penne Arrabbiata
    • vegan pasta salad in a bowl
      Vegan Pasta Salad
    • pasta and chickpeas with spoon
      Pasta with Chickpea (Pasta e Ceci)

    More 30-minute meals

    These recipes are quick, easy, and with a few ingredients - perfect for weeknight dinners (and wholesome, too!):

    • Lemon tofu served with white rice and sauteed spinach
    • Chickpea salad with mustard dressing, a 20-minute quick meal
    • Microwave sweet potato with toppings and homemade sauce, perfect as a last-minute dinner idea
    • Easy broccoli pasta with a creamy mashed sauce, a super easy 20-minute recipe!
    • lemon tofu on a white plate
      Lemon Tofu
    • chickpea salad
      Chickpea Salad
    • microwave sweet potato
      Microwave Sweet Potato
    • broccoli pasta with fork
      Broccoli Pasta

    For many more pasta ideas, check out our pasta category page.

    Recipe

    Lemon pasta with spinach

    Lemon Pasta

    Author: Nico
    Here is a simple lemon pasta recipe perfect for a quick and tasty lunch or dinner.
    It takes just 20 minutes to make this delicious and refreshing pasta dish, and you need only eight simple ingredients.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    4.82 from 11 votes
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American Italian
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 484 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 12 ounces spaghetti *
    • 10 ounces spinach
    • 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 cloves garlic grated
    • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 1 medium lemon grated zest and juice
    • ½ cup parmesan grated (or dairy-free cheese)
    • ½ teaspoon salt or more to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and stir it.
      Halfway through cooking, add the spinach, stir, and cook until the pasta is very al dente - that's 2 minutes less than what's written on the package instructions.
      Make the lemon sauce while the pasta boils.
      spinach and pasta boiling
    • To a large skillet, add the olive oil, grated garlic, grated lemon zest, and red pepper flakes.
      Warm it up slowly on low heat, then let the ingredients fry gently for 30 to 60 seconds without burning the garlic.
      Turn the heat off, add the lemon juice, and wait for the pasta.
      Tip: Only zest the yellow peel of the lemon, the white pith can be bitter.
      garlic and oil in a skillet
    • When the pasta is ready, save one cup of pasta water, drain the pasta and spinach and add them to the lemon sauce.
      Add a ladleful (½ cup) of pasta cooking water and cook on medium heat, stirring often for a short minute.
      pasta and spinach in a skillet
    • Add the grated parmesan, turn the heat off, and stir for 30 more seconds until the cheese melts.
      Taste and adjust for salt; add more reserved pasta water if the pasta gets too dry.
      grated cheese on pasta
    • Serve immediately and optionally sprinkle with parmesan cheese and grated lemon zest.
      Lemon Pasta with parmesan

    Video Recipe

    Lemon Pasta is a 20-minute Dinner Idea

    Notes

    Nutrition information is for one portion of lemon pasta out of four.
    *You'll need about 3 quarts (12 cups or 3 Liters) of water and 1 ½ tablespoons (21 grams) of salt to cook 12 ounces (340 grams) of pasta.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Lemon Pasta
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 484 Calories from Fat 135
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 15g23%
    Saturated Fat 4g25%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
    Monounsaturated Fat 9g
    Cholesterol 9mg3%
    Potassium 645mg18%
    Carbohydrates 70g23%
    Dietary Fiber 5g21%
    Sugar 3g3%
    Protein 18g36%
    Vitamin A 6824IU136%
    Vitamin B6 0.3mg15%
    Vitamin C 35mg42%
    Vitamin E 3mg20%
    Vitamin K 349µg332%
    Calcium 247mg25%
    Folate 157µg39%
    Iron 3mg17%
    Manganese 1mg50%
    Magnesium 109mg27%
    Zinc 2mg13%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    If you liked this pasta, you might also like:

    • Vegetable sides with salad and mashed veggies
      40 Best Vegetable Sides
    • Vegan salads with fresh herbs and legumes
      25 Vegan Salad Recipes
    • Vegan Pasta Recipes such as pomodoro and vegan carbonara
      40 Vegan Pasta Recipes
    « Pasta with Chickpea (Pasta e Ceci)
    Candied Walnuts »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Erin

      November 30, 2022 at 2:05 am

      5 stars
      This was so delicious and satisfying! Will be making again and again. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Louise

        November 30, 2022 at 5:56 am

        Hi Erin, I'm so happy you liked the pasta - thanks for taking the time to leave a comment here. Enjoy your Wednesday. Cheers, Louise

        Reply

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    Nico and Louise founders of the Plant-Based School.

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