Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta

5 from 1 vote

Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta

Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta is a recipe you can make with minimal effort and ingredients but it always tastes great. Frugally using up kitchen spices and noodles to create a dish that's cheap, easy, and perfect for dinner.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: dinner

Cuisine: American, Italian

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Calories: 386kcal

Author: Nicole Durham

Cost: Recipe $2.82 / Serving $0.47

Equipment

Ingredients

16 ounces spaghetti noodles ($0.98)
½ cup pasta water, reserved ($0.00)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter ($0.50)
4 teaspoons garlic, minced ($0.26)
⅓ cup lemon juice ($0.29)
1 teaspoon salt ($0.01)
½ teaspoon ground black pepper ($0.04)
½ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated ($0.74)
fresh parsley, chopped, optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook Pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain.
Make Sauce. Return the empty pot to the stove over medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Finish Sauce. Stir in the lemon juice, salt, black pepper, Parmesan cheese, and ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Remove from heat.
Combine. Add the cooked spaghetti and toss until evenly coated. Add additional pasta water a little at a time if needed to loosen the sauce.
Serve. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve warm.

Notes

Pasta Options. Any long pasta works. Adjust cooking time as needed.
Cheese. Freshly grated Parmesan melts best.
Creamy Version. Add a splash of heavy cream for a richer sauce.
Add Ins. Cooked chicken or shrimp pair well with the lemon garlic flavor.
Storage. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.

Nutrition