For those times when basic really is best: Pasta al Limone! There’s nothing needlessly extra about this recipe, and you won’t want it any other way. Fabulously simple, with a silky, cheesy lemon sauce and a pop of flavor from freshly ground peppercorns, it never fails to hit the spot.
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5 Star Review
“So easy and flavorful! Will definitely do this one on repeat.”
— Lisa —
Why You’ll Love This Pasta al Limone Recipe
- Simple (and Authentic!) Perfection. A classic Italian pasta for which “authentic” recipes abound, lemon pasta—or, as it’s known in Italian, pasta al limone—is a simple pasta dish consisting of a long noodle-shaped pasta (usually spaghetti), lemon (zest and juice), butter or olive oil, Parmesan, salt, and a generous amount of black pepper.
- No Heavy Cream Needed. Like Ricotta Pasta, one of the neatest things about this spaghetti al limone is the fact that you don’t need heavy ingredients to create a rich, silky sauce. In fact, this is a lemon pasta with NO heavy cream at all! The pasta’s own starches create the magic.
- Pantry Ingredients. You know all those times you open up the refrigerator, dig through the pantry, and ask yourself: What am I going to make for dinner? The answer is pasta al limone. It’s made with six simple ingredients and you likely have most (or all!) of them on hand.
- Light and Flavorful. Lemon pasta has a mouthwatering mix of umami Parmesan cheese, bright lemon, freshly cracked black peppercorns, and butter. It ticks a lot of those comfort food boxes, and yet it still manages to be a light pasta dish that won’t leave you feeling stuffed.
How to Make Lemon Pasta
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Unsalted Butter. I prefer butter to extra virgin olive oil for building creamy-textured pasta sauces like this one.
- Lemon. When fragrant Meyer lemons are in season, they’re a fantastic addition to this pasta al limone recipe.
- Parmesan. Make sure to buy the real-deal, and grate it yourself right off of the block. Because this recipe contains so few ingredients, their quality really counts. Just ask Penne Alla Vodka.
- Pasta. Spaghetti is the classic pasta shape for lemon pasta, but any long noodle such as fettuccine, angel hair pasta, or linguine works too. Shorter noodles do not work as well, since part of how the magical, silky sauce forms is due to the way long noodles can be dragged and tossed through the liquid.
- Garlic. Optional but delicious. It’s in some classic recipes but not others; personally, I love the way it tastes with pasta al limone, but don’t stress if you don’t have any on hand.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cook the Pasta. Don’t forget to reserve some of the pasta water.
- Start the Sauce. Sauté the garlic with the butter.
- Toss. Add the pasta, some of the pasta water, and toss to coat.
- Finish. Add the lemon zest and juice, then the cheese. Toss continuously, adding in salt and pepper. Serve lemon pasta hot with additional cheese and black pepper, and ENJOY!
Recipe Variations
We love this pasta just as it is: simple and perfect, without any additional fuss. If you’d like to augment it or add protein, here are few tasty suggestions.
- Shredded or Diced Chicken. Pasta al limone with chicken is a sure bet. Top it with grilled, sautéed, or even simply shredded chicken (use this stovetop method, Instant Pot Chicken, or Crock Pot Shredded Chicken to cook it).
- Shrimp. Add sautéed shrimp or Grilled Shrimp.
- Herbs. Add a handful of whatever is in your refrigerator. Fresh basil is classic for lemon pasta, and fresh parsley feels appropriate. Stay away from dried herbs, which are lackluster in flavor. Since you really don’t need any herbs at all (we enjoyed this recipe without), if you do decide to add them, make sure they are fresh.
- Greens. Stir baby spinach or baby arugula into the pasta al limone just before you begin tossing the pasta in the sauce; it will wilt and up the veggie factor in your dinner.
What to Serve with Pasta al Limone
- Bread. You can never go wrong. Try No Knead Foccacia or Rosemary Olive Oil Bread is fabulous too.
- Salad. Fresh, simple salads like this Caesar Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad or Arugula Salad are ideal. Assemble them while the pasta cooks.
- Vegetables. Add veggies to your meal by pairing this lemon pasta with a side of Roasted Zucchini or Roasted Eggplant.
Pasta al Limone
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 13 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Video
Pasta al limone is a simple, sublime classic Italian recipe made with lemon, Parmesan, butter, and black pepper. Fast, easy and perfect!
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Ingredients
- 8 ounces dried whole wheat spaghetti or similar long noodles such as fettuccine
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium lemon plus additional for serving
- ½ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese about 1 1/2 ounces, plus additional for serving
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil—use an amount of water so that the pasta is more crowded in the water than it typically would be (see photo in blog post above). Cook the noodles until al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- When the pasta is nearly done cooking, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds. If the garlic is done cooking before the pasta is ready, remove the pan from the heat so the garlic doesn’t burn.
- IMMEDIATELY (as soon as the pasta is drained) add the hot pasta to the skillet with the garlic. Pour in 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water. Increase the heat to medium-high, then with a pair of tongs, toss to coat. Continue cooking and tossing constantly, until the sauce turns shiny and coats the noodles—it will take a minute or so. The pasta will be coated in a shiny, silky sauce. If the pasta becomes too tight at any point, splash in a tablespoon or two of the reserved pasta water (add the water slowly so that the pasta doesn’t become watery).
- Zest the lemon over the top. Cut the lemon into quarters, then squeeze in the lemon juice. Sprinkle on the Parmesan. Toss again to combine. The cheese might be a bit clumpy at first, but just keep tossing, adding the tiniest splashes of pasta water only as needed. Add a good pinch of salt and several generous grinds of black pepper. Toss again. Taste and add more salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to serving plates and top each serving with a sprinkle of extra Parm and a bit more black pepper. Enjoy hot.
Notes
- TO STORE: Place leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm pasta in a large skillet on the stove over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water as needed to thin the sauce. Toss the noodles often and brighten them up with a squeeze of lemon.
- TO FREEZE: Store pasta in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Nutrition
Serving: 1(of 4)Calories: 335kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 12gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 292mgPotassium: 191mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 377IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 145mgIron: 2mg
I’ve never used Whole Wheat Pasta even though I love whole grain bread. This recipe was delicious served with the roasted veggies from this site (add cherry tomatoes to the pan for roasting – they were my favorite bites!).
So glad you enjoyed it, Leigh! Thank you!
Too acidic…needed more umami for my taste, also would probably have preferred shallots or onions over garlic, which lent an unneeded bite to the overall flavour
I’m sorry to hear the recipe wasn’t to your taste. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed it, so I really wish they would’ve been a hit for you too!
I RUSHED here after making this to write a review. This is the best pasta I’ve ever made! I used shredded parmesan to give it a stronger flavor, and it was amazing! I love that it turned out so creamy without having to use any heavy cream.