The whole family will love this easy creamy Lemon Pasta Recipe ready in less than 15 minutes. This ultimate comfort food is creamy, tangy and made with pantry staples.
This creamy Lemon Pasta Recipe will be one of the easiest pasta recipes you will ever make. It is simple, comforting, indulgent and anyone from beginners to more seasoned cooks can whip this up without breaking a sweat.
Even better this pasta with lemon, it is packed full of everyday pantry staples and takes about 15 minutes from start to finish. And what is better than a simple treat that saves the day during busy weeknights and lazy weekend dates. #winningatthiscookingthing.
I just love whipping up a big batch of this Lemon Garlic Pasta, dumping it along with a million and one bowls in the middle of the table, for everyone to help themselves. Add in an easy cucumber tomato salad or light spinach salad and you have got a meal fit for kings.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love It
- It is frugal yet oh so tasty.
- You can easily double or triple the recipe to feed a crowd.
- It is adaptable to your taste, see suggestion below.
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta – I used spaghetti but any pasta shape would work. Use gluten free pasta if you need.
- Lemons and zest – I love using Meyer lemons but feel free to use any lemon variety.
- Garlic – This uses fresh garlic cloves, but feel free to use store-bought minced garlic or garlic puree.
- Heavy cream – You can substitute half and half or milk, but the sauce will not be as thick.
- Parmesan – Look for freshly grated parmesan in the refrigerated section or grate your own.
- Parsley – Adds flavor and color. Feel free to use basil or fried sage instead.
- Seasoning – Add salt and pepper to your taste.
How To Make Lemon Pasta
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Cook the pasta till slightly al dente, drain and reserve a half cup of the pasta water.
- Heat olive oil over medium heat, add in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the pasta, pasta water, lemon juice, lemon zest, and cream and mix till cheese is melted and sauce is creamy then switch off the heat.
- Season with salt and pepper, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve.
Make Instant Pot Lemon Pasta
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below. Please not the instant pot ingredients are bit different from the stovetop version.
- Pour broth into Instant Pot insert, then add the pasta making sure it is fully submerged. Add in the olive oil and garlic.
- Close the lid and turn the vent to the sealing position. Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook or manual at high pressure for 5 minutes.
- When done allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) of 4 minutes before performing a quick release to let out the remaining steam.
- Open lid, stir in the remaining ingredients until the cheese is melted, season to taste, let stand for a few minutes, and then serve.
Recipe Tips And Variations
- Make sure to salt your pasta cooking water well so the pasta starts with great flavor.
- Garlic burns rather easily so keep an eye on this when frying the garlic.
- For the Instant Pot version, make sure the pasta is submerged.
- Add more lemon juice or lemon zest to your taste.
- Add a little bit of butter for a richer taste.
- You can use sliced garlic instead of minced or garlic puree if you prefer.
- Add other spices and herbs like red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning.
- Add nuts like pine nuts, greens like baby spinach and kale.
- Make it vegan – Use vegan cheese instead of Parmesan.
- Topping Ideas – Lemon noodles got great with arugula, tomatoes, shredded chicken etc.
Storage
- Store – Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freeze – Transfer the cooked pasta to a freezer-safe container for an easy freezer meal. Store for up to 4 months.
- Thaw – overnight in the fridge.
- Reheat – In the microwave with a little bit of water to loosen it up.
FAQs
Whilst this recipe uses spaghetti, feel free to use other pasta of your choice. My family has eaten it with spaghetti, bowtie pasta, fusilli, elbow macaroni, and linguini. Bear in mind that you will increase cook time with some of the other kinds of pasta.
Serving Suggestions
- Air Fried Green Beans.
- Easy Cucumber Tomato Salad.
- Light Spinach Salad.
- Instant Pot Chicken Breast.
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken.
More Recipes You Might Like
Tools You Need
- Saucepans.
- An awesome Instant Pot.
- Mixing bowls.
- Measuring cups and spoons.
- An Air Fryer.
- A grill, if you prefer.
- An instant-read digital thermometer.
Thank you for reading my Lemon Pasta recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
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Easy Lemon Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
Stovetop version
- 1 pound (450g) spaghetti
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 lemons juice from both
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream optional
- ⅔ cup (60g) Parmesan cheese grated
- salt and pepper to taste
Instant Pot Version
- 2 ½ cups (590ml) vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 8 ounces (225g) spaghetti or other pasta
- 1 lemon juice from, or more to taste
- ¼ cup (60ml) heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup (45g) grated Parmesan
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Add Stovetop Version
- Cook the pasta in salted water till slightly al dente, drain but reserve ½ cup of pasta water.
- Heat olive oil over medium heat, add in garlic puree and cook for 30 seconds till fragrant.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the pasta, pasta water, lemon juice, lemon zest and cream and mix till cheese is melted and sauce is creamy then switch off the heat.
- Season with salt and pepper, garnish with chopped parsley and serve.
Instant Pot Version
- Pour broth into Instant Pot insert, then the pasta, olive oil and garlic.
- Close the lid and turn the vent to sealing position. Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook or manual at high pressure for 5 minutes.
- Cook till done, then allow for a natural pressure release (NPR) of 4 minutes before performing a quick release to let out remaining steam.
- Open lid, stir in the remaining ingredients till the cheese is melted, season to taste let stand for a few minutes and serve.
Notes
- Make sure to salt your pasta cooking water well so the pasta starts with great flavor.
- Garlic burns rather easily so keep an eye on this when frying the garlic.
- For the Instant Pot version, make sure the pasta is submerged.
- Add more lemon juice or lemon zest to your taste.
- Add a little bit of butter for a richer taste.
- You can use sliced garlic instead of garlic puree if you prefer.
- Add other spices and herbs like red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning.
- Add nuts like pine nuts, greens like baby spinach and kale.
- Make it vegan – Use vegan cheese instead of Parmesan.
- Topping Ideas – Lemon noodles got great with arugula, tomatoes, shredded chicken etc.
Yummy I love lemon pasta.
Thank you
Another great recipe for my Instant Pot! Not only was this super easy and delicious, but it’s perfect for busy weeknights too; the whole family loved it!
This recipe was super easy to make and turned out to be absolutely delicious!! We paired it with a simple green salad for dinner and it was the perfect weeknight meal!
There is nothing better than a garlicy, lemon pasta!! This is my absolute favorite recipe and I love that it’s so easy and simple to make.
Yum! I love citrus with pasta. I’ve been stocking up on dried pasta because we’ll have an exchange student from Italy this fall. I bet she’ll like this too!