Lemon Butter Pasta 🍋🧈🍝 Bright, Silky, and Loaded With Zesty Citrus and Rich Melted Butter in Every Bite

This is a pantry-friendly stunner — lemon juice and zest cut through rich butter to create a luscious, glossy sauce that coats pasta like silk.

It’s elegant without effort, fast without shortcuts, and the kind of meal that tastes like it came from a cozy bistro but cooks up in 15 minutes. Light, rich, tangy, and totally flexible.

Ingredients (Serves 2–3)

For the pasta

• 8 oz spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine
• Salted water for boiling
• ¼ cup reserved pasta water

For the lemon butter sauce

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or thinly sliced
• Zest of 1 lemon
• Juice of 1 lemon (about 2–3 tbsp)
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and black pepper to taste

To finish

• ¼ cup grated Parmesan (optional, but delicious)
• More butter or olive oil (to adjust richness)
• Chopped parsley or basil
• Extra lemon zest or a drizzle of chili oil

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the pasta
Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ¼ cup pasta water, then drain.

Step 2: Build the sauce
In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic and red pepper flakes if using. Sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Add lemon zest and juice. Stir and let bubble briefly.

Step 3: Toss and combine
Add cooked pasta and a splash of pasta water to the skillet. Toss to coat until the sauce is glossy and clings to the noodles. Add Parmesan if using and stir until melted in.

Step 4: Serve immediately
Finish with herbs, lemon zest, more cheese, or a swirl of olive oil. Taste and adjust with more lemon or butter as needed.

Flavor Variations

• Add spinach, arugula, or peas for freshness
• Toss in shrimp, seared chicken, or crispy chickpeas
• Use brown butter for a nutty twist
• Add a spoonful of ricotta or mascarpone for richness
• Stir in capers or olives for a salty counterpoint

Pro Tips

• Zest the lemon before juicing — it’s brighter and easier
• Don’t overcook garlic — keep it soft and sweet, not browned
• Add Parmesan slowly and off heat to keep the sauce smooth
• Taste your lemon — some are more sour than others
• Want extra gloss? Stir in a final knob of butter off the heat

Final Thoughts

Lemon Butter Pasta is light, bright, and ultra-satisfying — a citrusy comfort dish that’s as elegant as it is easy. Serve it solo, pair it with seafood, or riff it a dozen ways. Either way, it always feels like sunshine in a bowl.

Melt it. Zest it. Swirl up something golden. 🍋🧈🍝

🍝 Pasta Recipes Collection

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