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Easy Lemon Butter Garlic Pasta

A quick and delicious pasta dish made with simple ingredients. Ready in under 30 minutes!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound Pasta (any shape)
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) Unsalted Butter
  • 4 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1/4 cup Lemon Juice freshly squeezed (about 1 large lemon)
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese grated
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley chopped (optional)
  • To taste Salt
  • To taste Black Pepper freshly ground
  • To taste Red Pepper Flakes optional

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Large skillet
  • Colander

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
  3. Add minced garlic to the melted butter and cook for 1 minute, or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
  4. Stir in lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until cheese is melted and sauce is slightly thickened.
  5. Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
  6. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
  7. Stir in fresh parsley (if using).
  8. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a richer flavor, use browned butter. You can also add cooked chicken, shrimp, or vegetables to make this a complete meal. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.