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    Home » Recipes » Meals

    Lemon Garlic Pasta Recipe

    Published: Feb 13, 2023 by Gaby Dimova · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    This lemon garlic pasta recipe is the perfect quick dinner recipe to make for the whole family if you want to make a home-cooked meal, but don't have a lot of time. It's made with simple ingredients and the final result is a light pasta dish with a creamy sauce and zesty flavor.

    This pasta al limone is only made with 4 basic ingredients, so it's important that you use fresh ingredients that are high quality. Use fresh lemon juice and fresh garlic (instead of lemon juice concentrate or garlic powder).

    creamy lemon garlic pasta recipe on a plate

    What you'll need to make this easy lemon garlic pasta recipe

    • pasta: you can use whatever pasta noodles you like. I used pappardelle because I find that thick long pasta works amazingly in this recipe. Other popular pasta shape options are angel hair pasta, spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccine.
    • fresh lemon juice: from a real lemon, not from a concentrate.
    • lemon zest
    • fresh garlic
    • extra virgin olive oil: you can also use vegan butter if you prefer a super creamy sauce.
    • canned coconut milk: I used canned coconut milk to make this pasta vegan, but you can use heavy cream interchangeably if you wanted a non-vegan version. Also, note that regular coconut milk won't work, you need to use canned coconut milk because it is much creamier.
    • red pepper flakes: optional, for extra flavor if you like a little spice
    • sea salt
    • black pepper

    Toppings

    • vegan grated parmesan cheese
    • fresh parsley
    • You can also top this dish with fresh basil, sun-dried tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes.

    The full ingredients list and nutritional information is in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

    Side dishes to pair with this garlic lemon pasta

    This delicious recipe tastes amazing as is, but if you wanted to add some more veggies or protein, you can easily add those.

    When making this at home, I like to pair roasted broccoli and sautéed mushrooms with mine. I make sure to add plenty of garlic powder to the broccoli and roast them until crispy in the oven.

    Another side dish option to add if you wanted some extra protein is some firm tofu. Make sure to flavor it by adding minced garlic and salt & pepper or soy sauce.

    lemon garlic pasta topped with vegan parmesan and parsley

    How to make the lemon garlic pasta sauce

    Start by chopping the cloves of garlic finely. 

    To a pan over medium-high heat, drizzle a generous amount of olive oil, then add the minced garlic and cook it for 1-2 minutes, until it starts to release its flavors. 

    If you are adding chili flakes for an extra kick, add them here. 

    sautéing minced garlic with olive oil on a pan

    In a separate large pot, cook your pasta according to the package directions, until al dente.

    Reduce to low-medium heat. Add the coconut milk, squeeze out the lemon juice, and zest the lemon. Add in the salt and pepper and stir everything until you have a creamy mixture. 

    adding coconut milk to a pan with sautéd garlic and olive oil
    zesting a lemon in a pan with olive oil and roasted garlic
    squeezing out lemon juice in a pan with roasted garlic
    stirring creamy lemon garlic pasta sauce in a pan

    Add the cooked pasta to the creamy lemon garlic sauce.

    If you like the consistency of the sauce to be thinner, you can add up to ¼ cup of starchy pasta water or white wine. If you prefer a creamy pasta sauce, leave it as is. 

    Serve with grated vegan parmesan and chopped Italian parsley on top. 

    Video

    For other delicious easy pasta recipes, try these:

    • plant-based lasagna
    • homemade vegan ravioli
    • creamy roasted red pepper sauce
    overhead shot lemon garlic pasta recipe on a dish

    Lemon Garlic Pasta Recipe

    Gaby Dimova
    This lemon garlic pasta recipe is the perfect quick dinner recipe to make for the whole family if you want to make a home-cooked meal, but don't have a lot of time. It's made with simple ingredients and the final result is a light pasta dish with a creamy sauce and zesty flavor.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 20 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 156 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 package pasta 12 oz
    • 1 lemon juice and zest
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • 2-3 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ cup canned coconut milk
    • a few chili flakes
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Start by chopping the garlic finely.
    • To a pan over medium heat, drizzle a generous amount of olive oil, then add the garlic and cook it for a few minutes, until it starts to release its flavors.
    • If you are adding chili flakes for an extra kick, add them here.
    • In a separate pot, cook your pasta according to the package instructions.
    • Reduce the heat to low. Add the coconut milk, squeeze out the lemon juice, and zest the lemon. Add in the salt and pepper and stir everything until you have a creamy mixture.
    • Add the cooked pasta to the creamy lemon garlic sauce.
    • If you like the consistency of the sauce runnier, you can add up to ¼ cup of pasta water or white wine. If you prefer your sauce creamier, leave it as is.
    • Serve with grated vegan parmesan and chopped Italian parsley on top.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 156kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 2gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 296mgPotassium: 135mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 7IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword lemon garlic pasta recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    How to store this lemon garlic pasta recipe

    Store the leftover pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

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    My name is Gaby and I'm the face behind Veggie World Recipes! On my site, you will find recipes that are vegan and made with a healthy twist. My goal is to make plant-based cooking accessible, fun, and always delicious!

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