This Creamy Lemon Pasta is a quick and easy weeknight dinner that tastes like a special occasion! Each piece of pasta is coated in a bright and zesty lemon sauce that’s silky smooth. Full of cracked black pepper and Parmigiano, one bite of this creamy sauce is like taking a trip to sunny Italy!
Why You’ll Love This Creamy Lemon Pasta
Pasta is a beautiful thing – full stop. I love how it can be a comfort food, an easy dish to throw together, full of vegetables, full of seafood, lightly seasoned, or drenched with flavor. In today’s case, fresh pasta is coated with a creamy lemon pasta sauce that you’re going to be licking off the bowl.
In under 15 minutes, you’ll have a delicious meal on the table that has bright lemony flavors and a ton of melted parmesan cheese to go around. This dish is also super versatile and lends itself of a variety of pairings. Make a creamy garlic lemon pasta by adding minced garlic, or add some protein! I love the sound of a creamy lemon shrimp pasta – how about you?
Whether this dish becomes your comfort meal, the one you throw together to get dinner on the table, or your special date night dish, I hope you love it as much as I do!
Ingredients
While this pasta tastes incredibly decadent, it’s probably one of the simplest pasta dishes you’ll make! See the ingredient list below for the simple ingredients, many of which you probably already have on hand. The full measurements are in the recipe card down below, so be sure to check that out.
- Fresh pasta
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- Butter
- Flour
- Chicken broth
- Lemon – zest and juice
- Heavy Whipping cream
- Freshly fine-grated parmesan Reggiano cheese
For your garnish, you’ll just need more black pepper, lemon zest, and cheese.
How to Make Pasta with Creamy Lemon Sauce
Step 1: Salt + Boil
To start, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Step 2: Start a Roux
- Add black pepper to the dry skillet and heat on medium-high heat. Cook the black pepper for 1-2 mins or until it’s very fragrant.
- Add the butter to the skillet and stir around. Once it melts, sprinkle the flour in and cook for 1-2 minutes, whisking frequently.
Step 3: Add Wine + Cream
- Add in the broth and let the mixture come to a low simmer.
- Whisk in the cream and cook it for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
Step 4: Cook Pasta
Add fresh pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions.
Step 5: Add Cheese
Stir parmesan cheese into the skillet with the simmering sauce and then take the skillet off the heat. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
Step 6: Add Pasta
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet, along with lemon zest and juice. Toss it together until the pasta is coated.
- Add in ¼ cup of pasta water at a time if the sauce becomes too thick.
Step 7: Garnish
Garnish your creamy pasta with more parmesan, lemon zest, black pepper, and a bit of chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
FAQs
What does lemon juice do to pasta sauce?
When you add lemon juice to pasta sauce it lifts the flavor and gives it a bit of sharpness. In this recipe, lemon is the main flavor of our creamy sauce, but if you add it to other pasta sauces I’d recommend starting small and tasting as you go.
Will lemon juice make cream curdle?
It can make the cream curdle if the temperature isn’t just right. If the cream is either too cold or too hot, you do not want to add lemon juice to it! Ideally, you’ll add lemon at a simmering temperature, or right below it. Today you’ll add the lemon juice and zest when the sauce is fresh off the stove.
Why do chefs add pasta water to sauce?
Pasta water is such a magical ingredient to add to your pasta! It thickens the sauce, the starch emulsifies the fats and cheeses, and it acts as a binding agent that’ll make sure the sauce really coats your cooked pasta. Start small and add it until you have your desired consistency.
Serving Suggestions
- Start with a refreshing drink! These days I’m obsessed with limoncello mules and the flavor pairs perfectly with this dish. You can also serve this pasta with a glass of Lambrusco or Lambrusco sangria since this sparkling Italian red wine pairs so well with creamy dishes.
- Enjoy an appetizer while your pasta cooks. I think olive oil and balsamic bread dip would be the perfect companion to this meal.
- Since your pasta will be so deliciously creamy, you can balance it out by serving it alongside broccolini salad.
- Finally, end your dinner with a sweet lemon treat! This lemon blueberry layer cake with lemon buttercream frosting will truly wow your guests with its beauty and tastiness!
More Pasta Recipes To Try
- Spicy Sausage Pasta
- Pasta Carbonara
- Butternut Squash & Pancetta Pasta
- Chili Garlic Noodles
- Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats (for a veggie pasta option!)
If you make this Creamy Lemon Pasta, be sure to tag me on Pinterest and Instagram!
I seriously love seeing what you guys are making and sharing your creations with the College Housewife community!
Creamy Lemon Pasta
ingredients
- 8 oz fresh pasta
- 2 tbsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ tbsp flour
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 lemon zested and juiced seeds removed
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup freshly fine grated parmesan reggiano cheese
- Garnish: cracked black pepper extra lemon zest, extra cheese
instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add black pepper to the dry skillet and heat on medium-high heat. Cook for 1-2 mins or until very fragrant. Add the butter to a skillet and stir around. Once it melts, sprinkle the flour in and cook for 1-2 minutes, whisking frequently.
- Add in the broth and let the mixture come to a low simmer. Whisk in cream and cook it for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Add fresh pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions.
- Stir in the parmesan cheese and take the skillet off the heat. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet along with lemon zest and juice. Toss until pasta is coated. Add in ¼ cup of pasta water at a time if the sauce becomes too thick.
- Garnish with more parmesan, lemon zest, black pepper and a bit of chopped parsley if desired. Serve immediately.
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