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Lemon Butter Pasta

Silky, bright pasta in under 15 minutes with nothing but butter, lemon, parmesan, and pasta water. The kind of weeknight dinner that tastes fancy but requires zero skills.

Total time
15 min
Servings
2
Calories
520
Protein
18g
Lemon Butter Pasta
simplefreshamericanvegetariansilkytenderweeknightpasta

Ingredients

  • 8 oz pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine)
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1 whole lemon (zested and juiced)
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions

  1. 1

    Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, about 9 minutes.

  2. 2

    Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain pasta.

  3. 3

    Melt butter in the same pot over low heat, then add lemon juice and zest.

  4. 4

    Add drained pasta and toss, adding pasta water a splash at a time until silky and glossy.

  5. 5

    Remove from heat, fold in parmesan, and serve immediately.

Tools you’ll need

  • large pot
  • colander
  • microplane or box grater

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