Lemon Butter Pasta (Pasta al Limone)
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This Lemon Pasta Recipe (Pasta al Limone) makes a silky lemon sauce bursting with fresh flavors and rich Parmigiano cheese that coats the pasta perfectly. Ready in just 25 minutes using only simple ingredients!
For more Italian recipes with lemon, try this Lemon Ricotta Pasta and Salmon Piccata.
Quick Look at This Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Servings: 6 people
- Dietary Info: Vegetarian, can be made Gluten-Free
- Method: Stove Top
- Technique: Cook pasta al dente, then toss with melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, and parmigiano, adding a splash of reserved pasta water for a smooth, silky sauce.
- Flavor & Texture: Bright and zesty lemon paired with rich, buttery, and creamy pasta that clings perfectly with a savory parmigiano finish.
A Simple Pasta That Feels Special
This is one of my favorite pasta dishes! With only a handful of ingredients, you can make the best lemon butter sauce for pasta. I love that it’s easy enough to whip up on a weeknight, yet elegant enough to serve for any special occasion.
The sauce comes together in just minutes, coating every strand of pasta with a silky, buttery, and zesty lemon flavor. It’s simple, fresh, and absolutely satisfying.
For more easy pasta recipes try my creamy spinach and lemon orzo, a classic Italian pesto pasta, or spaghetti alle vongole.
Made With Amore,
“This Pasta al Limone recipe is simple and elegant. The lemon adds a refreshing zing that cuts through the richness of the sauce beautifully…The sauce clings perfectly to the noodles, and the whole dish comes together quickly, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner. Thank you for sharing it!”
– Natalie
Ingredients for Butter Lemon Pasta
These ingredients create a silky, flavorful sauce that allows the lemon to really shine.
- Spaghetti: This lemon pasta sauce is best served with a long pasta, like spaghetti, angel hair, bucatini, fettuccine, and linguine. Short pastas such as campanelle, fusilli, gemelli, or farfalle all work too! Just remember, in a dish with few ingredients, splurge on a high-quality pasta for the best flavor.
- Cheese: Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese melts into the sauce helping to thicken it while also infusing it with a savory, nutty flavor. You will also need Pecorino Romano cheese for a slightly different flavor profile that gives the sauce a more complex flavor.
- Lemons: Freshly squeezed lemon juice and the lemon zest is crucial!
- Butter: Since butter is one of the main ingredients in this lemon butter pasta sauce, we want to make sure to use good-quality butter. I prefer European butter for its high-fat content and rich yellow color. You can use either salted or unsalted butter according to your taste preferences.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations & Substitutions
- Lemon Garlic Pasta: Smash one garlic clove while heating the butter to add a hint of garlic to the sauce.
- Make it Spicy: Add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick to this fresh lemon pasta recipe.
- Add a Protein: Turn this dish into a main meal by adding a protein. Simple dishes like these pan fried chicken tenders or oven baked salmon steaks are ideal!
- Throw in Veggies: Simple vegetables like roasted zucchini or roasted asparagus make a great addition on top of the pasta.
How to Make Lemon Pasta
This easy lemon butter sauce pasta is simple to prepare with minimal effort. Follow the step-by-step photos and see the recipe card at the bottom for a printable version.
- To get started, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a generous salt. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook, occasionally stirring, until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and reserve a 1/2 cup of pasta water. Whisk together the Parmigiano, pecorino cheese, and 4 tablespoons of lemon juice to make a paste. Gradually add the oil while constantly whisking. Next, whisk in the lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
- Melt the the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once melted, reduce the heat to low.
- Add the pasta to the pan with lemon butter sauce on low heat. Give it a toss to coat the spaghetti with the butter. Next, add the cheese and lemon mixture to the pasta and toss again. Last, add the pasta water to the spaghetti, continuing to stir. It will take a few minutes to thicken and create a silky sauce.
- Toss in torn basil or chopped parsley if desired. Serve while hot with additional Parmigiano on top.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes, you can make pasta al limone without cream. This isn’t a cacio e pepe, but the pecorino romano and parmigiano cheese add a wonderful creaminess to the spaghetti al limone without needing even a touch of cream. This pasta al limone is perfect the way it is. Follow the tips to get it silky smooth without heavy cream.
Pasta al Limone originates in Campania, specifically the Sorrento peninsula and the Amalfi coast. Amalfi and Sorrento are famous for their lemons. Although lemons are grown in all the south Italian regions (like Sardegna, where I am from), the lemons from the Campagna region are considered some of the best in the world. Sorrento’s aromatic and sweet lemons are known the world over. They are large, with a medium-thick bumpy rind and pulp with a balanced sugar content that tastes almost sweet. These lemons made the world’s first Limoncello. This simple butter and lemon pasta sauce highlight fresh lemon flavors beautifully and deliciously!
Since lemons are the primary flavor for this lemon pasta recipe, it is essential to buy quality lemons for that vivid lemon flavor. When buying lemons, choose organic lemons that have not been treated with pesticides. Look for those with rough, rather than smooth, skins, as they contain more of the essential oil that gives lemons their bright, fresh, and zesty aroma.
The most common culprit of a split lemon butter sauce is temperature. If your sauce splits it’s probably because the temperature was too high to begin with or you heated it too quickly. The secret to making this sauce creamy is to use a low temperature and to vigorous, constant stirring or whisking.
Place leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For best results, do not freeze. To reheat, warm pasta in a large skillet on the stove over low heat, adding a splash of water as needed to thin the sauce. Toss the pasta often and brighten it with a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve with extra parmigiano.
Serving Suggestions
Lemon butter pasta may be served alone or as a side dish with your favorite recipes. We love it with these grilled chicken thighs, baked salmon with pesto, and baked leg quarters, for a simple meal.
Pair it with vegetable sides like peas and pancetta, lemon and garlic green beans, some crispy parmesan brussels sprouts, or roasted broccoli. Don’t forget about the dessert! Pair it with lemon tiramisu or lemon posset.
My Pro Tips
Recipe Tips
- Cook Pasta Perfectly. Make sure to salt the water to flavor the pasta from the inside out. Only cook until al dente.
- Use Freshly Grated Parmigiano. It helps to grate the cheese finely, so it mixes well with the lemon juice and melts nicely into the sauce.
- Reserve Pasta Water. Save a cup of the pasta water to make the sauce extra creamy without using cream. After the pasta is cooked, gently toss the sauce and pasta water in the warm pan and watch the magic unfold!
- Juicing and Zesting Your Lemons. Zest the lemon before juicing it, it’s much easier. Don’t forget you want to avoid zest the white pith below the yellow outside as it’s quite bitter. Roll your lemons before juicing to loosen up the juices. This makes it easier and results in more juice!
More Italian Pasta Recipes
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Lemon Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti , or pasta of choice
- 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano Cheese
- 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, about 1-2 large lemon
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons good quality butter
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- Chopped fresh basil or fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk parmigiano, pecorino cheese, and 4 tablespoons of lemon juice to make a paste. Gradually add the oil while constantly whisking until smooth. Whisk in the lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a generous salt (it should taste like the sea!).
- Cook pasta, occasionally stirring with your favorite pasta utensil, for 8 minutes or until al dente according to the package directions.
- While the pasta is cooking, finish the sauce. In a large skillet on medium-high heat, melt the butter, and reduce the heat to low.
- Drain pasta and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water. Add pasta to the pan with butter sauce on low heat. Toss to coat. Add the cheese and lemon mixture to the pasta. Toss to coat and add pasta water to the spaghetti. Keep stirring. It will take a few minutes to thicken and create a silky sauce. Turn off the heat and serve hot.
- Toss in torn basil or chopped parsley if desired. Serve with additional Parmigiano on top. Enjoy!
Notes
- Cook Pasta Perfectly. Make sure to salt the water to flavor the pasta from the inside out. Only cook until al dente.
- Use Freshly Grated Parmigiano. It helps to grate the cheese finely, so it mixes well with the lemon juice and melts nicely into the sauce.
- Reserve Pasta Water. Save a cup of the pasta water to make the sauce extra creamy without using cream. After the pasta is cooked, gently toss the sauce and pasta water in the warm pan and watch the magic unfold!
- Juicing and Zesting Your Lemons. Zest the lemon before juicing it, it’s much easier. Don’t forget you want to avoid zest the white pith below the yellow outside as it’s quite bitter. Roll your lemons before juicing to loosen up the juices. This makes it easier and results in more juice!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So simple, so Italian! Absolutely delicious. Thank you so much Elena! I am a huge fan
( My family is from Aci Castello in Sicily😉)
This makes my heart so happy, thank you!!
And Aci Castello… che bello! Such a beautiful part of Sicily. You know then, the simplest dishes are often the most delicious, just a few good ingredients and a little amore.
I’m so glad you loved it and that it felt true to your roots. Sending you a big hug, and thank you for being here! 💛 Mangia!
Absolutely delicious! Came together quickly and the taste was light and refreshing.
Cant wait to make it again.
Love all of Elena’s recipes. Highly recommend.
This makes me so happy to hear! That’s exactly what I love about this pasta, simple, quick, and so fresh and bright in flavor.
I’m so glad it came together easily for you and that you’ll be making it again. Thank you for your kind words and for being here, it truly means so much to me.
Mangia! 💛