Spaghetti with Lemon Cream Sauce
A light yet luxurious pasta dish featuring al dente spaghetti tossed in a silky lemon cream sauce with garlic, Parmesan, and fresh herbs. Ready in 20 minutes!
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) spaghetti
- 2 tbsp (30g) unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- 1/4 cup (60ml) fresh lemon juice (2–3 lemons)
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley or basil, chopped
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Boil spaghetti in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Make sauce: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes; sauté 1 minute until fragrant.
- Combine: Pour in heavy cream, lemon juice, and zest. Simmer 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Finish: Reduce heat to low. Stir in Parmesan until melted. Add drained pasta and toss to coat, adding pasta water as needed to loosen sauce.
- Serve: Season with salt/pepper. Garnish with herbs and extra Parmesan.
Notes
- For extra richness, add 1/4 cup mascarpone or cream cheese with the Parmesan.
- Add protein: Sautéed shrimp or grilled chicken pair beautifully.
- Vegan option: Use coconut cream, nutritional yeast, and vegan butter.
- Sauce thickens upon standing – serve immediately.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Find it online: https://us.recipesfood.org/spaghetti-with-lemon-cream-sauce/
