Garlic and Lemon Pasta

Simple and delicious meals that can be made in under 30 minutes is one of our favorite things to make and our Garlic and Lemon Pasta never fails to make it into both our bi-weekly meal rotations! I really love how simple, but flavorful this pasta always turns out!

One of my favorite components about this pasta is the buttery breadcrumb topping. The breadcrumbs add such a nice texture contrast to the soft pasta. It’s one of our favorite quick weeknight meals along with our Romesco Sauce Rigatoni (another quick and easy pasta dish)!

Why We Love This Garlic and Lemon Pasta Recipe

We seriously love this pasta so much! It’s one of our favorite meals to make for our families for so many reasons.

• It comes together in just 20 minutes – making it a perfect quick and easy weeknight meal!
• Our pasta uses only a handful of basic ingredients (which you probably already have in your pantry and refrigerator).
• It’s a minimal effort meal, which always makes us happy.
• It’s very easy to tweak and make your own based on personal preference!

How to Make Garlic and Lemon Pasta

Ingredients

Process

Breadcrumb Topping

1. Place a large pan over medium heat and melt butter.
2. Add breadcrumbs and toast for 1 minute.

3. Stir in salt and chives. Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Pasta

4. Place a large pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Once water is boiling, add a small handful of salt and spaghetti. Cook spaghetti for 6 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente. Strain pasta into a colander, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
5. Using a paper towel, wipe out the same pan used for breadcrumbs. Place pan over medium heat and add oil. Add shallots and garlic and sauté for 30 seconds, just until the mixture becomes fragrant, but hasn’t started to brown.

6. Add lemon zest, juice and crushed pepper flakes and continue to cook for another 30seconds.
7. Add pasta and pasta water and toss together. Cook until half the liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute. Add parmesan then season with salt and pepper and toss together until pasta is evenly coated.

8. Transfer pasta to serving bowls or plates and top with breadcrumb mixture, more lemon zest and more grated parmesan. Serve.

Lemon Pasta Tips and Tricks for Success

• Don’t forget to add a little bit of pasta water to the dish. It really helps to bring the dish together and add a slight creaminess to the overall meal.
• Use fresh lemons for the juice/zest! The lemon flavor is such a big part of this pasta, that it really needs the fresh lemon to make it shine.

Variations

• Mix up the citrus that’s used. Oranges and limes both make great alternatives (or even additions) to the pasta!
• Use Italian breadcrumbs instead of panko, if you want more of a subtle crunch from the topping.
• Swap the oil out for butter and add a splash of cream to the mixture (and slightly reduce) before adding the pasta for a creamy sauce.
• Boost the flavor even more for some fresh herbs like minced thyme, torn basil or even thinly sliced chives.
• Add some protein like some sautéed chicken or buttery shrimp!

Storing Leftovers and Reheating Garlic and Lemon Pasta

Our lemon pasta can be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. To reheat, transfer pasta to a pan with a little bit of water and heat over medium-low heat until pasta has warmed through.

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