Lemon Garlic Pasta

This Lemon Garlic Pasta is an easy and refreshing dinner. It is packed with healthy fat from olive oil and anti-inflammatory garlic and lemons. Plus, the recipe works with any kind of pasta, and you can make it gluten-free or low-carb if needed.

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If you like Mediterranean diet recipes packed with healthy fats from olive oil, herbs, and less dairy, like my Roasted Cauliflower With Tahini or Sautéed Eggplant, you’ll love this recipe. This easy pasta dish is packed with anti-inflammatory garlic, lemon, and healthy omega-3 fatty acids from olive oil.

The creamy sauce is made from these simple ingredients, without heavy cream or dairy. Plus, you can make this recipe with any pasta if you watch your carbs or gluten intake. Read below for tips on choosing the healthy pasta that works for you. But first, let’s see how to make this delicious lemon garlic pasta sauce.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Spaghetti or angel hair pasta. Any thin and long-strand pasta works. Feel free to use low-carb keto spaghetti. See the link in the recipe card for gluten-free pasta like rice pasta, buckwheat, or edamame spaghetti.
• Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice – or bottled lemon juice.
• Olive Oil – I prefer using extra-virgin olive oil.
• Reserved Pasta Water from cooked pasta
• Fresh Garlic – Or garlic powder if it’s all you have.
• Freshly Chopped Parsley – Or Italian parsley.
• Pepper or red pepper flakes

The best pasta for this lemon garlic pasta recipe is spaghetti. Depending on your dietary requirements, you may want to choose a different kind of pasta like:

• Gluten-Free Spaghetti – The ones made from rice, buckwheat, peas, or edamame are delicious.
• Low-Carb Keto Spaghetti – They are often made from egg white, oat fiber, and pea protein isolate. See the ones listed in the recipe card.
• Healthy Pasta – Wholewheat spaghetti or pulse-based spaghetti, like red lentil pasta, chickpea pasta, and spelt pasta are healthier.

How To Make Lemon Garlic Pasta

Lemon garlic pasta is a Mediterranean-inspired recipe, also called Pasta Al Limone in Italy, where the sauce is made dairy-free using pasta water. The key to making delicious pasta dishes is to cook pasta al dente. It means the pasta is not too soft but still a bit tender and firm when bitten.

Plus, al-dente pasta is healthier because it is slower to digest and has a lower glycemic index. Less cooked pasta spikes blood sugar levels less.

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water. Reserve 1/3 cup of cooked pasta water for later.
2. Drain the pasta over a sieve. Set aside while making the lemon garlic sauce.
3. For the sauce, use the same saucepan used to cook the pasta – no need to clean it.
4. Add olive oil and warm over medium heat. Add minced garlic and stir fry for a few seconds, then add finely chopped parsley and lemon zest.
5. Stir fry for a few seconds and add pasta water, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
6. Simmer for one minute, then return the pasta to the pot and toss to coat with sauce.
7. Cook over low-medium heat for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is warm.

Serving

This lemon garlic pasta is delicious served with toppings like:

• Grated Parmesan cheese, including dairy-free option if vegan.
• Chili Flakes
• Ground Pepper
• Fresh Parsley
• Toasted Pine Nuts

This pasta recipe is even better with some egg or meat on the side like some of the recipe below.

• Sunny-Side Up Egg – add on top of the pasta.
• Blackened Chicken
• Greek Chicken Marinade – use this on chicken breast and add on side of the pasta.
• Cast-Iron Chicken Breast
• Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders

Storage Instructions

This pasta dish can be stored in the fridge in airtight containers for up to four days. Rewarm it in the microwave, in a microwave-safe bowl, or in a saucepan over medium heat. Alternatively, you can freeze it in a sealed container and thaw it in the fridge the day before.

Allergy Swaps

Find below some substitution options to match your dietary requirements or allergies:

• Olive Oil – Another healthy oil for cooking is avocado oil. Or, if you prefer a lemon garlic butter sauce. Try grass-fed butter or ghee.
• Low-FODMAP – Skip the garlic.
• Low-Carb Keto – This sauce is low-carb-friendly. Use your favorite low-carb pasta for this recipe.
• Gluten-Free – Use gluten-free spaghetti.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find below my answers to your most frequent questions about this recipe.

More Pasta Recipes

If you like this recipe, you’ll love these other pasta recipes: