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Quick Creamy Lemon Garlic Parmesan Pasta

A close-up of a serving of creamy lemon pasta, generously topped with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
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Make this rich, zesty pasta dish in under 20 minutes for a fast and satisfying weeknight meal.

Ingredients

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  • 12 oz spaghetti or linguine
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Before draining, reserve at least 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic brown.
  3. Reduce the heat to low. Pour in the heavy cream and the reserved pasta water. Stir constantly until the sauce begins to simmer lightly.
  4. Remove the skillet from the heat. Whisk in the grated Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  5. Season the sauce with black pepper and salt. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  6. Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated. Add a splash more pasta water if the sauce seems too thick.
  7. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Notes

  • For a brighter flavor, use fresh lemon juice only; bottled juice changes the taste.
  • If you do not have heavy cream, you can substitute it with 4 oz of cream cheese, softened, added in step 4.
  • Use high-quality Parmesan cheese for the best melting and flavor.

Nutrition

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