Lemon Garlic Pasta

By Amy Dong
Updated Mar. 4, 2025

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This Lemon Garlic Pasta is a classic, comforting pasta dish that’s quick and easy to prepare. It boasts a fresh, vibrant, and utterly delicious flavor, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

Overhead shot of lemon garlic pasta with minced parsley on top with visible red pepper flakes. — We all love a good pasta dish, and when it’s as easy and delicious as this Lemon Garlic Pasta, it’s a total win.

Why This Recipe Stands Out

This simple pasta recipe is an easy to make meal that’s perfect for a quick, flavorful weeknight dinner. Here’s why this recipe works so well:

Incredibly Quick: We love how quick and easy it is to make this classic and comforting pasta dish. In just 20 minutes it’ll be ready to serve on the dinner table!
Weeknight Friendly: Once you try this quick and easy version of Aglio e Olio, it will quickly be added to your weeknight recipes.
BIG Flavors: Lemon and garlic add the most delicious flavors to this pasta dish! It’s a classic combination we love in our Lemon Garlic Swordfish too.
Leftovers Taste Great: Leftovers keep well for lunch the next day, if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers!
Customizable: You can easily dress it up with 10-Minute Garlic Shrimp, Grilled Chicken Breast, and even Garlic Butter Mushrooms!

Key Recipe Ingredients

Garlic – Fresh garlic is the star of this dish, adding a robust, aromatic flavor that sets this pasta apart.
Spaghetti Noodles – We use spaghetti noodles, but feel free to use your favorite pasta shape.
Lemon Juice and Zest – Freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest add a bright, citrusy kick that balances out the richness of the butter and cheese.
Red Pepper Flakes – A pinch of red pepper flakes adds a subtle heat that compliments the other flavors without being too spicy.

Substitutions And Variations

Here are a few of our favorite variations and substitutions:

Herbs: We love the bright, fresh flavor that parsley or basil adds to this dish, but feel free to get creative with your herb choices. Thyme or oregano could work well too.
Pasta: You can use your favorite shape of pasta in place of spaghetti. Cook to al dente according to package instructions.
Protein: While this is a vegetarian dish, you can easily add grilled chicken, shrimp, or even tofu for a protein boost.
Cheese: If you want to switch up the cheese, try using Romano or Asiago in place of Parmesan.
Spice Level: If you prefer a spicier kick, increase the amount of red pepper flakes you add to it.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Boil salted water in a large pot. In a skillet, mix olive oil, butter, garlic, and salt. Cook on low heat until aromatic, about 5 minutes.
Once the water starts boiling, add spaghetti and cook, stirring often until just al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain.
Return spaghetti to the pot. Stir in parsley or basil, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, sauteed garlic in all its oil, and some pasta water to reach the desired consistency.
Add salt and pepper to taste. Add 1/2 cup of parmesan and toss. Sprinkle the rest of the parmesan when serving.

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

How To Prep Ahead

Take a look at the best prep-ahead strategies for this recipe:

Prep Garlic: Mince the garlic cloves ahead of time and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Juice and Zest Lemon: You can also zest the lemon and squeeze the juice out up to two days in advance. Store it in the fridge until ready to use.
Entirely Make Ahead: Make this pasta dish entirely ahead of time and serve it the next day. It’s great for meal prepping.

Overhead shot of lemon garlic pasta with minced parsley on top. — This Lemon Garlic Pasta is quick and easy to prepare, yet has a delectable flavor everyone will love.

What To Serve With Lemon Garlic Pasta

Vegetables

A simple green salad is a great way to round out your meal. Consider this Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad or an Easy Chopped Greek Salad.
If you want to keep it all veggies, a side of Roasted Vegetables or Roasted Brussels Sprouts would be a great choice.
Serve some Garlic Butter Mushrooms on the side to make the flavors pop even more.

Protein

You can add your favorite protein to make it even more satisfying. We love adding some 10-Minute Garlic Shrimp or Grilled Chicken Breast to it.
Thinly sliced grilled steak is great for those who enjoy pasta with steak.

Commonly Asked Questions

Can I use pre-minced garlic?

While you can use pre-minced garlic, we highly recommend using fresh garlic cloves for this recipe. The flavor of fresh minced garlic is far superior and really makes a difference in the overall dish.

How do I know when the spaghetti is al dente?

The best way to determine if the spaghetti is al dente is to follow the package instructions. However, we also recommend tasting the pasta a couple of minutes before the suggested cooking time. Al dente pasta should be tender but still have a slight bite to it.

Why do I need to reserve pasta water?

Pasta water is starchy and can help to thicken and bind the sauce. The reserved pasta water is often used to adjust the consistency of the sauce, especially when you’re combining the pasta with other ingredients.

How long does lemon garlic pasta keep?

Lemon garlic pasta can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to store it in an airtight container to maintain its freshness.

Did you make this?

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