• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Spoon Fork BaconSpoon Fork Bacon
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Twitter
    • TikTok
  • What’s for Dinner?
  • Recipes By Category
  • Most Recent
  • Contact
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes By Category
  • Most Recent
  • What’s for Dinner?
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Twitter
    • TikTok
  • ×

    Home > Blog > Pasta & Noodles > Capellini with Garlic Lemon and Parmesan

    Capellini with Garlic Lemon and Parmesan

    by Jenny Park · Published: Apr 20, 2020 · Modified: Jun 18, 2021

    Jump to Recipe
    A simple and delicious recipe of Capellini pasta with Garlic Lemon and Parmesan is the perfect weeknight dinner that can be made in less than 30 minutes.
    Garlic and Lemon Capellini
    A big bowl of garlic and lemon capellini pasta with a fork in it.

    Our Capellini pasta with Garlic Lemon and Parmesan is one of those dishes that’s really satisfying. I love how this meal only requires a few basic ingredients, takes less than 30 minutes to pull together and is just so good.

    You won’t miss the sauce in this dish because there’s so much delicious flavor going on!  It’s the perfect busy weeknight meal for sure. We really love pairing this with a simple mixed green salad or some spicy arugula. You can also throw some grilled chicken or shrimp on top for something a little heartier.

    Ingredients shot overhead for our capellini pasta recipe.

    How to make Capellini

    1. Start with salted boiling water in a large pot, and cook your capellini pasta for about 5 to 6 minutes, until al dente.
    2. Reserve some pasta water, then drain pasta and set aside.
    3. Melt butter in a large skillet. Sauté shallots and garlic until caramelized.
    4. Add the pasta and pasta water, then toss together. Add lemon zest and lemon juice. Finish pasta with more lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and parmesan.
    Jump to Recipe
    Capellini  pasta cooking in a pot of water.
    Capellini cooks much quicker than other pastas because it’s so thin – it only takes about 5 minutes!
    Sauted shallots and garlic in a skillet shot overhead with wooden spoon.
    Sauté the shallots and garlic together in butter. This gives the dish all the delicious flavor.
    Capellini pasta in a skillet with parmesan on top.
    Toss the cooked Capellini pasta with the reserved pasta water, lemon zest, lemon juice. Then toss with red pepper flakes, parmesan, and more lemon zest.

    Capellini FAQs

    What is capellini?

    It is a rod shaped, long strand Italian pasta that literally translates to “little hairs”.

    Is capellini the same as angel hair pasta?

    They are similar, but angel hair is thinner than capellini. Angel hair is a great substitute if you can’t find capellini at the grocery store.

    Is capellini the same as thin spaghetti?

    No. Capellini is thinner than thin spaghetti. It is also a great substitute if you can’t find capellini in the grocery store.

    How do you cook capellini?

    Just fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add some salt and the pasta and cook until al dente. It’s a really thin pasta, so it doesn’t take long to cook at all, about 5 minutes.

    Jump to Recipe
    Capellini with garlic lemon and parmesan on a blue plate with a fork and spoon.

    Tips for making Capellini with Garlic Lemon and Parmesan

    • Seasoning the pasta water with salt is very important. As the pasta absorbs the water when boiling, it will flavor the pasta internally. You’ll also need less salt in the overall dish.
    • Adding some of the starchy pasta water to the skillet will help to thicken the butter ‘non-sauce’ and nicely coat the pasta in the overall dish.
    • Using butter in this recipe instead of oil adds a subtly nutty flavor to the dish without having to worry about low smoke point since the heat doesn’t go above medium and the overall skillet cook time is relatively short.

    I love how quickly this thin pasta cooks up and particularly love this brand. If you love this recipe, you should check out our other capellini based recipes that are equally simple and delicious:
    –Garlic and Herb Capellini
    –Capellini with Smoked Salmon Cream Sauce

    Garlic and Herb Capellini pasta on plate with a fork and spoon next to it.
    Garlic and Herb Capellini
    Capellini with smoked cream sauce in a bowl with a fork next to it.
    Capellini with Smoked Salmon Cream Sauce
    Click here for our Pasta & Noodles Recipe Collection!
    A close up shot of capellini in a spiral shape.

    Hungry for more?

    Subscribe to never miss a recipe.

    EmailPinTweetShareYummly
    A close up of capellini with garlic lemon and parmesan with a fork.

    Capellini with Garlic, Lemon and Parmesan

    5 from 45 votes
    PRINT RECIPE Pin Recipe
    A simple and delicious recipe of Capellini pasta with Garlic Lemon and Parmesan is the perfect weeknight dinner that can be made in less than 30 minutes.
    RECIPE BY Teri & Jenny
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 12 mins
    Total Time: 17 mins
    Servings: 4

      INGREDIENTS  

    • ½ pound capellini
    • 3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 2 tablespoons minced shallots
    • 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
    • 1 lemon zested and juiced
    • salt and pepper to taste

    garnish

    • lemon zest
    • red pepper flakes
    • grated Parmesan

      INSTRUCTIONS  

    • Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.
    • Add a handful of salt followed by the pasta and boil for 5 to 6 minutes or until the pasta is cooked through.
    • Drain and set aside, Reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
    • Place a large skillet over medium heat and add butter. Once butter has melted add shallots and garlic and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add pasta and pasta water and season with salt and pepper and toss together for 1 minute. Lower heat to medium. Add lemon zest and juice and continue to sauté for 2 minute. Finish pasta with additional lemon zest, a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes and a generous amount of freshly grated Parmesan. Toss together and serve.

      NOTES  

    • Is Capellini the same as angel hair or thin spaghetti? While similar, angel hair is actually thinner than capellini. Capellini is also thinner than thin spaghetti. Either would make a fine substitute. 
    Tips: 
    • Seasoning the pasta water with salt is very important. As the pasta absorbs the water, when boiling, it will flavor the pasta internally. You’ll also need less salt in the overall dish.
    • Adding some of the starchy pasta water to the skillet will help to thicken the butter ‘non-sauce’ and nicely coat the pasta in the overall dish.
    • Using butter in this recipe instead of oil adds a subtly nutty flavor to the dish without having to worry about low smoke point since the heat doesn’t go above medium and the overall skillet cook time is relatively short.
    Calories: 368kcal Carbohydrates: 46g Protein: 8g Fat: 17g Saturated Fat: 5g Cholesterol: 15mg Sodium: 6mg Potassium: 189mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 3g Vitamin A: 175IU Vitamin C: 15mg Calcium: 23mg Iron: 1mg
    CUISINE: Italian
    KEYWORD: pasta,
    COURSE: dinner

    You Might Also Love...

    • Fettuccine Alfredo in a bowl and twirled on a fork.One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe
    • Chili oil garlic noodles on a plate twirled on a fork.Chile Oil Garlic Noodles
    • A close up of a swirled pile of cacio e pepe.Cacio e Pepe Recipe

    April 20, 2020 / 26 Comments

    About Jenny Park

    Jenny Park is half of Spoon Fork Bacon. She is also a food stylist and recipe developer. One of her favorite foods is donuts. #sfbJENNY

    Previous Post: < Previous Post Poppy Seed and Lemon Cookie Recipe
    Next Post: Lemon Thyme Cake Next Post >

    Reader Interactions

    April 20, 2020 / 26 Comments

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Did you make this recipe? We want to see!

      tag @SpoonForkBacon and #SpoonForkBacon on Instagram

    1. Jo

      March 24, 2023 at 8:45 pm

      5 stars
      Love zesty shrimp with lemon capellini J

      Reply
    2. Syd

      March 12, 2023 at 4:41 pm

      5 stars
      amazing. my husband said it’s the best pasta he’s ever had. he’s not usually a pasta guy but still. his was made normal but I made mine with earth balance vegan butter and gluten free vermicelli and it’s amazing!! I’ve made it a lot already. it’s so quick easy and tastes so good

      Reply
    3. Clauncy

      March 01, 2023 at 8:39 pm

      5 stars
      my husband said it was the best pasta he’s ever had. I forgot to add the pasta water. I also made it for myself modified to be vegan and gluten free besides the parmesan. it was really good.

      Reply
    4. Michelle

      January 12, 2022 at 2:22 pm

      5 stars
      I just made this for Dinner w/ homemade crusty bread…mmmmhm so simple and delicious, so fresh…i mean! Ill be craving this tomorrow! Thank you!

      Reply
    5. Louise Ranger

      July 17, 2020 at 6:33 pm

      Very good , it is the 4th Time. Will do it again, thanks

      Reply
    6. Dennis Yannakos

      July 10, 2020 at 9:17 pm

      Simple and delicious meal! I’ll cook this for my gf :)

      Reply
    7. Amy

      June 22, 2020 at 11:00 am

      5 stars
      I love this recipe so much. I crave it!

      Reply
    8. Sea

      June 01, 2020 at 10:37 pm

      I love garlic, I love lemon, And you are got both in your recipe. That’s awesome. Thank you so much

      Reply
    9. Anne Park

      May 18, 2020 at 6:40 am

      5 stars
      This pasta dish was so easy to make and it was delicious. Everyone in my family loved it!

      Reply
    10. stephen

      May 13, 2020 at 5:09 pm

      5 stars
      My family can’t get over how good this pasta was!

      Reply
    11. Aubrey

      April 28, 2020 at 12:36 pm

      5 stars
      This was so good. Definitely making it again. And again.

      Reply
    12. Andreas

      April 17, 2020 at 9:45 am

      5 stars
      Trying it today as it sounds scrumptious! I hope all’s well with Tristan! Garlic is a medicine. Stay well.

      Reply
    13. Jordan

      March 12, 2020 at 10:02 pm

      5 stars
      This was so good. Definitely adding to my family’s monthly meal rotation!

      Reply
    14. Claire Taylor

      March 20, 2016 at 3:03 am

      Thanks so much for this. It’s great to show awareness in another form instead of the reams of medical posts and info online. This is refreshing. I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS in 2012. I’m not on meds, I manage it. I note that stress is a major factor for me. When I’m having a hard time I feel it. Diet is important too I agree, so I’ll be watching that Ted talk. All the best Tristan and to her support network.

      Reply
    15. Bob Rea

      March 11, 2016 at 8:59 pm

      Thank you so much Jenny for the wonderful thoughts,comments and stories regarding your great friend and my daughter Tristan. You are one classy lady!

      Reply
    16. Meaghan

      March 10, 2016 at 6:36 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe is simply delicious! What a great post about Tristan! Xoxo

      Reply
    17. Cathy

      March 10, 2016 at 5:00 pm

      The recipe looks fabulous! I will share your site with others (esp. due to your testimonial about Tristan, my second cousin). Yes, she’s hilarious (…remember the ‘teeth’ at her wedding?) Laughter is the best medicine, and pasta helps too!

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        March 11, 2016 at 5:54 pm

        Thank you so much!! LOVE our girl, Tris!

        Reply
    18. Holly Deffenbaugh

      March 09, 2016 at 8:21 am

      I love a classic and simple pasta dish. This looks incredible. Thank you for sharing your story with us. It is good to stop and recognize the beautiful people in our lives and it sounds like Tristan is one of those for you. Blessings to you and your friend.

      Reply
    19. Kendall

      March 08, 2016 at 1:08 pm

      5 stars
      Made this and it was incredible!

      Reply
    20. Tori

      March 08, 2016 at 1:25 am

      5 stars
      First of all, YUM! This is definitely my kind of pasta. I’m very sorry to hear about your friend. I pray that she can beat thing, and the same for all of the people who have been affected by ms.

      Reply
    21. Dhanya Samuel

      March 07, 2016 at 4:53 pm

      5 stars
      What a gorgeous recipe with such an inspiring story.

      Reply
    22. Broderick

      March 07, 2016 at 12:59 pm

      Tristan sounds like an amazing person and I think that you’re both great storytellers. Can’t wait to try this recipe!

      Reply
    23. Kianne

      March 07, 2016 at 12:03 pm

      So lucky to have both a Tristan and a Jenny in my life!

      Reply
    24. Dianne

      March 07, 2016 at 10:38 am

      Sorry to hear about Tristan- it seems like her attitude can help her stay positive. I am a dietitian and in no way affiliated with the video linked below. I watched this and it BLEW MY MIND. I think everyone with MS should give it a shot! The power of nutrition can be extraordinary. Dr. walls was able to get up out of her wheel chair and walk by eating vegetables.
      Best wishes,
      Dianne

      http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxIowaCity-Dr-Terry-Wahls-Min

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        March 07, 2016 at 11:06 am

        Thank you so much for sharing this link, it’s so helpful! I will definitely forward it on to Tristan! Thank you!!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    HI! WE ARE GLAD YOU'RE HERE!

    Teri and Jenny of Spoon Fork Bacon

    We hope you find something you love in
    our little corner of the internet.
    XOXOXO, Teri + Jenny

    ABOUT US

    As Featured On

    A complication of logos showcasing where Spoon Fork Bacon has been featured. Including delish, today show, cosmopolitan, good morning america, domino, good housekeeping, william sonoma, and country living.

    Asian Inspired

    BBQ

    PORK

    DESSERT

    For Dinner Tonight

    • Panko crusted lamb chop recipe on a plate. Panko-Crusted Lamb Chops Recipe
    • Tteokbokki recipe on a platter. Tteokbokki (Korean Spicy Rice Cakes)
    • Cajun shrimp pasta recipe in a bowl with a fork on the side. Cajun Shrimp Pasta
    • Korean Army Stew or Budae Jjigae in a pot ready to be served. Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew)
    • Shrimp scampi recipe on a plate with bread and lemon wedges. Shrimp Scampi Recipe
    • A collage of our best Valentine's dinner ideas. Best Valentine’s Day Dinner Ideas

    Popular Now

    • Fried pickle chips on a platter with ranch dressing. Fried Pickle Chips
    • Carrot cake recipe on a cake stand with a slice out. Carrot Cake Recipe
    • Shrimp scampi recipe on a plate with bread and lemon wedges. Shrimp Scampi Recipe
    • Brown Butter Colcannon recipe in a bowl with a spoon in it. Brown Butter Colcannon
    • Chicken and gnocchi soup in a bowl with bread on the side. Chicken Gnocchi Soup
    • Cajun shrimp pasta recipe in a bowl with a fork on the side. Cajun Shrimp Pasta

    Footer

    As Featured On
    As featured on graphic.

    GET NEW RECIPES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX!

    Thank you!

    You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS Feed
    • Twitter
    • TikTok

    All content including images © 2011-2022 Teri Lyn Fisher & Jenny Park. Stealing is bad karma.

    Spoon Fork Bacon contains paid advertising banners and occasionally affiliate links, and sponsored posts.
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Sponsored posts are indicated at the start of such posts. All of our opinions are always our own.
    Thank you for supporting our sponsors. It helps us pay to run this site and bring you unique and original recipes.

    Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!