Parmesan Lemon Pasta (Printable)

Creamy pasta with zesty lemon and savory Parmesan, ready in 25 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz spaghetti or linguine

→ Sauce

02 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
05 - Zest of 1 large lemon
06 - Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tbsp)
07 - 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
08 - ¼ cup pasta cooking water (reserved)

→ Garnishes

09 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
10 - Sea salt, to taste
11 - Extra Parmesan cheese, for serving
12 - Chopped fresh parsley or basil (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water before draining.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
03 - Stir in the lemon zest and juice, allowing the mixture to warm through for about 30 seconds.
04 - Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. Gradually add the grated Parmesan, stirring constantly. Pour in the reserved pasta water little by little, mixing until the sauce becomes creamy and clings to the pasta.
05 - Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan and fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Ready in 25 minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
  • The lemon cuts through the richness so you never feel weighed down
  • Uses pantry staples you probably already have on hand
02 -
  • Reserve the pasta water before you drain or the sauce will not come together properly
  • Keep the heat at medium because high heat will separate the sauce and make it grainy
  • Toss constantly while adding cheese to prevent it from clumping into one big mess
03 -
  • Room temperature butter melts more evenly and keeps your sauce emulsified
  • Use a microplane or fine grater for the lemon zest to avoid bitter white pith

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