Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta

A bright, silky pasta tossed with lemon, garlic, and butter for a fast, restaurant-style meal using pantry basics.

Ingredients

• 200 g dried spaghetti (or any dried pasta)
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 lemon (zest + 2 tbsp juice)
• 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley (optional)
• 30 g Parmesan, finely grated (optional)
• 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt (for the pasta water), plus more to taste

Method

• 1

  Step 1: Boil the pasta

  Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt it with **1 tsp salt**. Cook pasta until **just al dente** (usually 1 minute less than packet time). Scoop out **1 cup pasta water**, then drain.

• 2

  Step 2: Sizzle the garlic

  In the now-empty pot (or a large skillet), heat **olive oil + butter** over **medium heat**. When the butter is melted and foamy, add **garlic** and **chili flakes**. Cook until **fragrant but not browned**, about **45–60 seconds**.

• 3

  Step 3: Build the sauce

  Add **lemon zest**, **black pepper**, and **2 tbsp lemon juice**. Stir for **10 seconds**. Add **1/2 cup** reserved pasta water and simmer **30 seconds** until the sauce looks slightly glossy.

• 4

  Step 4: Toss and emulsify

  Add drained pasta. Toss vigorously for **30–60 seconds**, adding more pasta water a splash at a time until the sauce **clings and turns silky**.

• 5

  Step 5: Finish and serve

  Off heat, toss through **Parmesan** (if using) and **parsley**. Taste and adjust with extra salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Serve immediately.

Tips

• **Silky sauce secret:** Toss hard and add pasta water gradually—this emulsifies the butter and oil into a glossy coating.
• **No Parmesan?** Skip it or add an extra pinch of salt and black pepper for balance.
• **Add-ons:** Stir in canned tuna, sautéed mushrooms, or a handful of baby spinach at the end (use what you have).
• **Storage:** Best eaten fresh; leftovers keep **2 days** refrigerated. Reheat with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.

Nutrition (per serving, estimate)