Easy Lemon Butter Pasta

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 7 oz spaghetti or linguine

02 - 1 teaspoon salt for boiling pasta

→ Sauce

03 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

04 - Zest of 1 lemon

05 - Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons)

06 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced

07 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

08 - 2 tablespoons reserved pasta water

09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

10 - Salt to taste

→ Garnish

11 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

12 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add spaghetti or linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 2 tablespoons of pasta water.

02 - Melt unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute, allowing the aroma to develop without browning.

03 - Stir in lemon zest and juice, mixing thoroughly to infuse the sauce.

04 - Transfer drained pasta to the skillet, add reserved pasta water, and toss until the noodles are well coated.

05 - Sprinkle in grated Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper. Toss until the cheese melts, the sauce turns glossy, and adjust seasoning with salt to taste.

06 - Plate immediately. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and extra Parmesan as desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -

It feels like a little secret: a silky sauce bursting with lemon flavor takes just minutes to make.
This pasta delivers elegance and warmth without fuss, and it's highly adaptable for impromptu nights or weekend dinners.

02 -

If you forget to reserve pasta water, your sauce will be thin and lacks that creamy texture—I've made that mistake more than once.
Using freshly grated Parmesan instead of pre-grated is the gamechanger—the melt and flavor are worlds apart.

03 -