Creamy Lemon Pasta with Parmesan
A quick and flavorful Creamy Lemon Pasta with Parmesan featuring bright lemon, rich cream, and umami Parmesan cheese, perfect for weeknight dinners or casual entertaining.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1 pound Pasta
2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
4-5 cloves Garlic, minced
1 ½ cups Heavy Cream
2 tablespoons Lemon Zest
¼ cup Fresh Lemon Juice
1 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
¼ cup Fresh Parsley, chopped
Salt, to taste
Black Pepper, to taste
½ – 1 cup Pasta Water
Instructions
- Boil the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add pasta, and cook until al dente, reserving 1-1½ cups of pasta water before draining
- Start the Sauce Base: In a skillet, melt butter and olive oil over medium heat, add minced garlic, and sauté until fragrant
- Build the Creaminess: Add heavy cream and lemon zest, simmer gently for 2-3 minutes to thicken and infuse flavor
- Combine and Emulsify: Add drained pasta and pasta water to the cream sauce, stir in Parmesan cheese and lemon juice
- Toss and Thicken: Use tongs to combine, adding more pasta water as needed for desired consistency
- Season and Serve: Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, garnish with parsley and extra Parmesan, serve immediately
Notes
Fresh ingredients yield the best flavor.
Reserving ample pasta water is key for sauce consistency.
Find it online: https://onthatplate.com/creamy-lemon-pasta-with-parmesan/