Creamy Lemon Pasta (in under 20 minutes!)

Name: Creamy Lemon Pasta
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Ingredients: 16 ounce spaghetti noodles; 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin); 2 garlic cloves (minced); ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes; 1 large lemon (zest & juice); 8 ounce mascarpone cheese; ½ cup heavy cream; 1 cup Parmigiano cheese (fresh grated); ½ teaspoon salt; basil (fresh (optional garnish))

This page may contain affiliate links. View our disclosure policy for details.

This creamy lemon pasta is ready to eat in 15 minutes, thanks to the help of a few convenience items in the pantry.

What to do for dinner tonight? Pasta is a great option for something hearty and super quick. A creamy, flavorful lemon pasta is a perfect quick & easy meal!

Quickly turn a few basic pantry staple ingredients into a flavorful pasta dish that the entire family will enjoy.

two white plates of creamy lemon pasta with black forks to the side

Creamy Lemon Pasta Recipe

This light lemon cream sauce for pasta is the perfect light crisp recipe for spring and summertime. But it also satisfies those comfort food cravings!

Add some grilled chicken or shrimp, and a fresh green salad for the ultimate dinner.

plate of creamy lemon pasta with a black fork sticking in center of the pasta.

Ingredients

I love that this recipe is so simple to make and does not need any complicated ingredients. You can easily find these items in your local grocery store.

Here’s what you’ll need:

spaghetti noodles — you can definitely substitute this pasta. So use your favorite pasta noodle
extra virgin olive oil — quality is key here!
garlic cloves
fresh lemon for zest and juice — you’ll want fresh lemon juice for this recipe and not a bottled variety.
mascarpone cheese
heavy cream
salt
crushed red pepper
freshly grated parmigiano cheese
fresh basil or parsley (optional)

ingredients for creamy lemon pasta in small bowls

Instructions

This recipe is incredibly quick and easy to make. You can have the entire recipe done in the time that it takes to cook the pasta! And depending on which pasta you choose, it can go really quickly.

Although, I prefer a spaghetti, linguine pasta, or other thicker noodle — you can substitute and use your favorite.

Angel hair pasta only takes like 5-6 minutes to cook which makes this recipe come together even faster.

Begin by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. And don’t forget to salt your pasta water! To do this, add the salt to the water just as it’s boiling and before adding the pasta.

Then drop the noodles without breaking them up to the boiling large pot of salted water.

Cook the pasta noodles until al dente or desired doneness.

lemon zest and juice in small glass bowls

minced garlic, crushed red pepper and parmesan cheese in a large skillet.

Next, grate the zest and squeeze the juice from lemon.

In a large saucepan or skillet, heat up the olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper, stir until fragrant, just about 1 minute.

Stir in the mascarpone cheese, parmesan cheese, heavy cream and simmer over medium heat, stirring until combined.

Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and the salt.

large skillet with the spaghetti noodles on top of the cream sauce.

skillet of creamy lemon pasta with fresh herbs on top.

Drain the cooked pasta and add directly to the large skillet pan of creamy lemon sauce. Combine together and garnish with fresh herbs.

Sprinkle additional red pepper flakes, black pepper, and more fresh parmigiano cheese to taste, if desired.

white plate of creamy lemon pasta with a black fork and blue & white tea towel in the back.

How to store leftovers

This is a pasta that you should enjoy fresh. Most pastas don’t store well depending on their sauce. If you do have leftovers, be sure to store in an airtight container for about 3-4 days. Add additional cream or milk when heating up the pasta as it becomes dry during storage. Heat over low heat on the stove top inside of a saucepan.

More favorite pasta recipes

Here’s a few of our favorite pasta recipes that we think you’ll love too!

FAQ (frequently asked questions)

When to add lemon to cream sauce?

The lemon should be added after making the cream sauce and just before adding the pasta noodles. This will help prevent it from curdling the creamy sauce.

What do you pair with creamy lemon pasta?

We love to pair this pasta with a fresh green salad, grilled chicken, or shrimp, or other light grilled fish. Salmon is definitely another favorite!

want more recipes?

Check out the recipe index where you can discover more homemade recipes from my homestead!

go to recipe index

Creamy Lemon Pasta

If you’re in search of a light, creamy, and easy-to-make pasta dish, look no further. Lemon zest and lemon juice pair with creamy marscapone and parmesan to make this pasta dish. Plus, it takes 15 minutes to cook!

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Serving Size