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Creamy Lemon Pasta

A close-up of a white bowl filled with creamy lemon pasta, generously sprinkled with fresh parsley.
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A quick and easy restaurant-style creamy lemon pasta dish perfect for busy weeknights. This recipe balances bright citrus with a silky Parmesan-cream sauce.

Ingredients

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  • 12 ounces spaghetti
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions in a large pot of salted water. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  3. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  4. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
  5. Add fresh lemon juice and lemon zest to the sauce. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
  6. Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat evenly.
  7. If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  8. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For added protein, you can add cooked chicken breast or shrimp to the pasta in step 6.
  • To make this a lighter option, substitute half of the heavy cream with plain Greek yogurt. Stir the Greek yogurt in off the heat to prevent curdling.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delishsymphony.com/creamy-lemon-pasta-recipe/