Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta

5 from 1 vote

Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta

This straightforward Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta recipe is suitable to make as a main dish on busy weeknights. It requires minimal effort, especially with the 5-minute prep time, since you don’t have many ingredients to chop.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Western

Servings: servings

Author: Precious

Ingredients

16 ounces spaghetti
6 Tablespoons butter
8 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
½ teaspoon crushed pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon black pepper
⅔ cup freshly grated parmesan, plus more for serving
Salt as needed
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Fresh minced parsley for garnish optional

Instructions

Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente (done but with a firm bite). It takes about 8 minutes to cook to be al dente. Remove one cup of the pasta cooking water and set aside for later use, then use a colander to drain the pasta over a sink.
16 ounces spaghetti

Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta

Add the butter to a skillet on medium heat and let it melt. Add the minced garlic and crushed pepper flakes and stir for 30 seconds. Do not burn the garlic. Add the black pepper and half of the reserved pasta water. Stir well and bring to a light simmer.
6 Tablespoons butter, 8 cloves garlic, peeled and minced, ½ teaspoon crushed pepper flakes, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Add the cooked spaghetti and toss well to combine with the garlic butter sauce. Add the shredded parmesan and toss well to ensure that it is evenly distributed in the pasta. Add more water if it needs some thinning out. Also, taste and add salt as needed.
⅔ cup freshly grated parmesan, plus more for serving, Salt as needed
Take off the heat and add the lemon zest and juice. Toss to combine.
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Garnish with minced fresh parsley if desired. Serve topped with more shredded parmesan.

Notes

Don't miss all the important details in the post.
After it cools to room temperature, you can store any leftovers from this simple lemon garlic pasta dish in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or gently over medium-low heat on the stovetop.
For best results, use fresh parmesan cheese and grate it yourself rather than buying the store-bought grated cheese. It makes all of the difference in quality, texture, and flavor!

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