Easy Lemon Butter Pasta

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 7 oz spaghetti or linguine

02 - 1 teaspoon salt for pasta water

→ 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 boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 2 tablespoons of pasta water, then drain the pasta.

02 - Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, careful not to brown.

03 - Stir in lemon zest and juice, combining well with the butter and garlic.

04 - Add drained pasta to the skillet along with reserved pasta water. Toss thoroughly to coat all strands.

05 - Sprinkle in grated Parmesan and black pepper, tossing until the cheese melts and sauce is glossy. Adjust salt to taste.

06 - Transfer to serving plates and garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

This sauce comes together so quickly, you'll hardly believe how much flavor it packs.
Pasta and lemon are the kind of duo that impress without any fuss—great for spontaneous dinners or a little midweek celebration.

02 -

If you rush the garlic, it can quickly turn bitter—give it a minute and watch for just the right aroma.
Learning to reserve pasta water became a game changer: the sauce is much more luxurious and clings better.

03 -