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    Home » Recipes » Main Dish

    Lemon Spaghetti

    Modified: May 2, 2023 · Published: May 4, 2022 by Kristin · This post may contain affiliate links. · 2 Comments

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    Lemon Spaghetti is an easy dish bursting with refreshing, light flavor! Ready to enjoy in under 20 minutes, this is perfect for those busy weeknights!

    lemon, basil, and parmesan combined into a sauce over spaghetti noodles

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    My family is big on family dinners each week. No matter how busy our weeknights are, we always try to carve out time for a family dinner each night. One where we can catch each other up on our day, keep each other in the loop with happenings, and simply connect after a busy day!

    Years ago, my kids started taking turns talking about their day and telling us about the good, the bad, goofy conversations, and more. Since then, it has turned into our nightly routine going around the table and sharing stories. As crazy as my day might be, family dinner is one of my favorite parts of the day.

    Nothing is more relaxing then sitting down with some tasty comfort food and enjoying family time, am I right?! Especially now that my kids are a bit older and past the picky stage where food gets dissected and uneaten because it isn’t the “right color, shape, or item”, ha-ha!

    Jump to:
    • Lighten up your standard spaghetti dinner with this light, flavorful, and delicious recipe for lemon spaghetti.
    • Ingredients Needed for Lemon Spaghetti
    • How to prepare
    • Optional Toppings
    • What to serve with this pasta?
    • Storing Tips
    • Love pasta? Check out these other great recipes:
    • Easy, refreshing, and light tasting. This Lemon Spaghetti is ready in no time and perfect for any occasion. Print or save the recipe below to give it a try!
    • Lemon Spaghetti

    Lighten up your standard spaghetti dinner with this light, flavorful, and delicious recipe for lemon spaghetti.

    A few nights ago, I served this lemon spaghetti with some grilled shrimp and the family devoured their plates in no time! Not only that, but the kids went back for seconds, which means it was definitely a favorite! The best part of all, I had the meal ready to serve in under 20 minutes!

    The light lemon sauce is bursting with lemon flavor. It is incredibly refreshing and so good with the salty Parmesan cheese and sweet basil.

    Ingredients Needed for Lemon Spaghetti

    • Olive Oil
    • Parmesan Cheese
    • Lemon Juice- fresh is best, about two lemons
    • Salt/Pepper
    • Spaghetti
    • Basil- fresh is best, chopped
    • Lemon Zest

    How to prepare

    • In a medium bowl, combine the olive oil, Parmesan, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Set bowl aside.
    • Boil pasta and cook until al dente. Drain water.
    • Toss pasta with lemon sauce.
    • Add in the Basil and lemon zest and serve immediately!

    lemon juice, parmesan, and basil combined into a flavorful sauce over spaghetti noodles

    Optional Toppings

    Although this dish is vegetarian, it can easily be changed to make this a complete meal! Feel free to add veggies, proteins, and more to make it your own.

    • Chicken- cooked and chopped or cut into strips
    • Shrimp- cooked and grilled/sauteed
    • Mushrooms- sliced
    • Chopped Broccoli
    • Asparagus- chopped
    • Peas or any other veggie desired

    What to serve with this pasta?

    Buttery Bread Machine Rolls

    Mini Garlic Monkey Bread

    Lemon Garlic Salmon

    Melt in Your Mouth Salmon

    Storing Tips

    To be honest, we don’t typically have very many leftovers when I make this, however, if you do, simply place the leftovers in an airtight container.

    This can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. I don’t recommend freezing because the texture never comes out right when thawed.

    Luckily, this can be a great lunch option though, so use those leftovers for lunches, dinners, or snacks!

    tender pasta covered in a fresh lemon sauce

    Love pasta? Check out these other great recipes:

    Creamy Cajun Sausage Pasta

    Bruschetta Chicken Pasta

    Chicken Piccata Pasta

    Creamy Baked Ziti

    Garlic Parmesan Spaghetti

    Easy, refreshing, and light tasting. This Lemon Spaghetti is ready in no time and perfect for any occasion. Print or save the recipe below to give it a try!

    Want to save this recipe?

    Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
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    lemon, basil, and parmesan combined into a sauce over spaghetti noodles

    Lemon Spaghetti

    Recipe by: Kristin
    Lemon Spaghetti is an easy dish bursting with refreshing, light flavor! Ready to enjoy in under 20 minutes, this is perfect for those busy weeknights!
    5 from 2 votes
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Side Dish
    Servings 6
    Calories 330 kcal

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowls
    • Herb Scissors
    • Zester

    Ingredients
      

    • ⅔ cup olive oil
    • ⅔ cup Parmesan cheese *grated
    • ½ cup lemon juice *fresh is best
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 lb spaghetti
    • ⅓ cup Basil *chopped
    • 1 tablespoon lemon zest

    Instructions
     

    • In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Set bowl aside.
    • Boil pasta according to package directions to reach al dente.
    • Drain water and mix pasta with sauce. Stir to coat thoroughly.
    • Add in the chopped Basil and lemon zest.
    • Serve and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 330kcalCarbohydrates: 59gProtein: 14gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 570mgPotassium: 208mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 160IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 153mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @TheCookinChicks or tag #TheCookinChicks!

    Recipe adapted from Giada’s Lemon Spaghetti

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    Comments

    1. Sarah M says

      May 05, 2022 at 9:27 am

      5 stars
      I make a very (almost identical) similar dish calling it lemon pasta using corkscrew pasta. Mixing the lemon juice, olive oil and zest together and pouring over the hot pasta. Then use fresh parsley and green onions instead of basil. Yummy either way!

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        May 05, 2022 at 9:55 am

        Wow! That sounds scrumptious too!! Yum!!

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Welcome to The Cookin' Chicks…I am so glad you've stopped by! I am Kristin, a busy mom of 3, a wife, and a family chef! There are three things that motivate me each day - Family, Faith, and FOOD! I, along with the occasional help of friends and family, want to share my food creations with you! So, I invite you to join me around my dinner table through the recipes that I will share with you here. I hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I do!

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