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Easy Creamy Lemon Pasta

Easy Creamy Lemon Pasta

This easy creamy lemon pasta is a simple and fast recipe that combines zesty lemon with a decadent parmesan sauce.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 508 kcal

Equipment

  • skillet
  • Pot

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces uncooked pasta rigatoni or penne
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 0.5 tablespoon flour
  • 1 small clove garlic minced
  • 0.25 cup chicken broth/veg broth or dry white wine
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1 lemon zest of
  • 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
  • 0.33 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
  • to taste Salt & pepper
  • fresh parsley & extra parm optional

Instructions
 

  • Boil a salted pot of water for the pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions.
  • When the pasta is about 10 minutes away from being done, add the butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. Once it melts, sprinkle the flour in and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring fairly often.
  • Add in the garlic, followed by the broth (or wine) and lemon juice + zest. Let it bubble for 1 minute.
  • Whisk in the cream and cook it for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened up to your liking.
  • Stir in the parmesan cheese and take the skillet off the heat. Season with salt & pepper as needed (I am generous with both).
  • Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss until coated (I like to add a tablespoon or so of the pasta water to the sauce prior to draining it, especially if it's become a tad too thick). Garnish with more parmesan and a bit of chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

This pasta makes 4 reasonably-sized portions with plenty of sauce. I do NOT recommend subbing the heavy cream for anything with a lower fat content because the lemon in the sauce is very likely to curdle it.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 508kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 12gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 257mgPotassium: 193mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1122IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 143mgIron: 1mg
Keyword creamy lemon pasta, lemon cream pasta
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