Easy Spaghettoni Recipe (Creamy Lemon Spaghetti Pasta)

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I really hope you enjoy this Spaghettoni Recipe. If you do, please let me know in the comments below. I LOVE reading your comments ❤.

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE

This creamy spaghettoni recipe is gonna be your new favorite pasta dish (and don’t worry, you can use any pasta you prefer here, not just spaghettoni)!

It has a creamy garlicky sauce with a nutty rich flavor thanks to Parmesan cheese but that’s not all…

… Lemon juice cuts through that creaminess lending a refreshing tangy flavor to our pasta sauce. The result is a creamy sauce with a unique tanginess to it… Absolutely delicious and such a delicate flavor ✨.

Thick strands of al dente spaghettoni hug that sauce giving you an incredibly creamy dish with a filling pasta bite. So good, I have no words.

This is a delicate sauce with flavors from garlic, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, lemon juice and lemon zest. It’s unique and pretty amazing.

This is such a delicious meal. It’s the best dish ever but hey, here are a few more reasons why you’ll love it-

• Our creamy spaghettoni recipe here is quick and I love that. It takes about 20 minutes to come together and that’s pretty awesome for such a filling dish! It’s a pretty quick weeknight dinner for those busy days.
• This spaghettoni dish tastes like a deliciously high quality dish but uses such simple ingredients, I love that about it ❤.
• It’s such a simple recipe too. It has no complex cooking steps and processes involved, it’s absolutely perfect for a beginner (plus I’ve got super helpful in-depth instructions to help you along the way too!).
• This pasta dish makes an amazing main dish as well as side dish! So filling, I just know you’ll love it. It’s impressive enough to be served at a party too. This dish does it all 💖.

INGREDIENTS & SUBSTITUTIONS FOR THIS SPAGHETTONI RECIPE

For the full recipe with exact ingredient measurements, please scroll down to the Recipe Card.

This spaghettoni recipe is one of the easiest and most delicious pasta recipes I’ve made recently. Just a few simple ingredients give us such a great meal.

The key here is to use high quality ingredients when making this pasta dish for the best results every single time.

To make this spaghettoni recipe, we need:

• Spaghettoni- I’ve used spaghettoni here. It’s like spaghetti but a thick version of it. I make sure to cook it until it’s al dente. It’s important for our pasta to be cooked al dente so it finishes cooking in our creamy sauce without getting soft and mushy. Don’t worry if you don’t have spaghettoni. You can use any pasta you like here! Our creamy zesty sauce works well with every pasta out there. You can use fresh pasta (if you can be patient through the whole process and making the dough wait and things, it’s so good!) or dried pasta (usually what I use) if you like.
• Olive oil- We add in just a little olive oil for flavor and so our butter doesn’t burn. You can use any cooking oil you prefer here.
• Butter- Such an important ingredient in this pasta dish. Butter adds the butteriest most delicious flavor here. We sauté some garlic in our butter too, infusing the butter with the most incredible garlic flavor that works so well with a creamy tangy sauce like this one.
• Garlic cloves- Ah, garlic cloves. Those smashed and minced garlic cloves lend the most amazing buttery garlic flavors to this pasta making it the best dish ever. It’s all about those delicate flavors of each ingredient. It makes this dish truly special. Fresh garlic is best.
• Lemon zest- We add lemon zest twice in this creamy pasta recipe. Once at the very beginning to infuse our butter and oil with that lemon zest flavor and to bring all those flavors out. And then towards the end to add more zesty flavor. Lemon zest adds the most amazing citrusy flavor here and I love it!
• Heavy cream- Heavy cream adds a lush rich flavor in this simple recipe. It works deliciously well with those flavors of butter, garlic and lemon. Heavy cream also gives our pasta sauce a thick creamy texture that’s well, incredible. I don’t suggest using half and half here because it may split because of the lemon juice. The more fat in your cream the better.
• Lemon juice- This spaghettoni recipe has a creamy lemon-y sauce and lemon juice helps add that flavor. Lemon juice adds a delicious tart tangy flavor that works exceptionally well with a cream sauce like this one. So.good.
• Parmesan cheese- Parmesan cheese has to be one of the most delicious cheeses ever! It’s no secret I adore it. It adds a deep nutty flavor to our creamy lemon-y pasta sauce. You can use Pecorino Romano too if you like. I’ve tried pre-grated Parmesan cheese here and it just does not melt well enough and usually clumps up! Please always use fresh Parmesan cheese and grate it yourself.
• Black pepper and salt- Black pepper and a little bit kosher salt add to the flavor and are seasoning essentials here. You can add more or less according to what you prefer.

HOW TO MAKE THIS SPAGHETTONI RECIPE [Step-by-Step Instructions with Photos]

Please keep in mind that I go into lots of detail in all my recipes so you get to know all the super important tips and tricks when it comes to making a particular recipe. I always want you to make the BEST of whatever you’re cooking ❤.

STEP 2: MAKE YOUR BUTTER GARLIC MIXTURE

Over medium-low heat (not medium heat or medium-high heat), take a large pan, large skillet or even Dutch oven.

Add in a little olive oil and butter. Just a little bit oil will prevent the butter from browning too fast.

As the butter starts to melt, add in your smashed and minced garlic cloves (we don’t want very hot oil and butter here).

Stir well with a wooden spoon or ladle for about a minute until you smell that amazing butter garlic aroma! Don’t let the garlic brown.

Then turn the heat to low and add in 1/2 tsp lemon zest.

Stir well for about a minute with your wooden spoon or ladle, mixing everything together.

STEP 3: ADD IN YOUR HEAVY CREAM

Over the same low heat (please make sure it’s not medium heat or medium-high heat), gently pour in your heavy cream.

Stir very well with your wooden spoon and bring the heavy cream to a gentle boil over low heat. This will take about 4 to 5 minutes.

Now add in the Parmesan cheese and mix really well.

Let the sauce simmer until the cheese melts and everything thickens up a little. This will take about 2 minutes.

STEP 4: FINISH COOKING YOUR SAUCE

Add in 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper to the creamy sauce. Mix that pepper and kosher salt well with your wooden spoon or ladle.

It’s now time to add in our lemon juice. Here’s something I do that I feel reduces the chances of our sauce splitting- I always add about a tablespoon of our hot cream sauce to the bowl of lemon juice first and mix it really well. I then add that mixture to our cream sauce in the pan. I suggest you do this too.

And mix everything really well.

STEP 5: ADD IN YOUR COOKED PASTA

Now to the creamy sauce, add in your cooked al dente pasta.

Mix really well using tongs if you can, gently scraping the bottom of the pan (or the bottom of the pot if you’re using a Dutch oven) to mix everything evenly.

Let the pasta absorb all that lush creamy sauce as you mix everything together.

You can add about 2 to 4 tbsp of pasta water here to thicken up your sauce and to help the sauce stick to the pasta too. So good! I love having my pasta saucier than I prefer because with time, that pasta will absorb most of that sauce.

Give your pasta a taste and add more salt and/or black pepper if you like.

Make sure you do all of this pretty quick and then switch off the heat.

Then top it up with the remaining 1/2 tsp lemon zest and optionally fresh herbs like parsley, chives, thyme, green onions or whatever you prefer, as well as some more grated Parmesan cheese.

And serve.

Now take a bite. Isn’t that absolutely incredible? A thick garlicky creamy sauce with a touch of tang mixed in with those thick strands of spaghettoni… Delicious. And you made it all on your own. That’s pretty amazing ❤.

Once again, for the complete recipe with exact ingredient measurements, please scroll down to the Recipe Card.

Also, if you have any questions about this recipe, make sure to check out our FAQs section below to maybe find your answer there, or leave a comment and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible, I promise 😊.

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PASTA WHEN MAKING THIS SPAGHETTONI RECIPE?

Yes, you can use a different type of pasta when making this creamy spaghettoni recipe!

I’m not kidding when I say you can use whatever type of pasta you prefer, know and love ❤. This thick creamy tangy sauce will work with all pasta types.

I used spaghettoni here because I love the bite it has to it. It’s thick and delish but that’s my personal preference.

If you don’t have spaghettoni at home, you can use spaghetti! You can use other types of long pasta like fettuccine or bucatini too. You can also use penne or rotini. You can use a type of short pasta as well such as rigatoni or farfalle… Literally any type of pasta works here.

That’s just how amazing this sauce is 😉.

All you need to remember is to salt your pot of water well when cooking the pasta (not just one teaspoon salt here!) and cook the pasta until it’s al dente so it doesn’t get mushy and super soft in the sauce. We want our pasta to finish cooking in our creamy sauce so it’s okay if it has a bit of a bite to it when you drain it!

Oh and you can use dry pasta (I mostly do) or even fresh pasta (if you can be patient through the process of letting the dough rest and everything, it’s worth it!). Both dried pasta and fresh pasta work well here.

Now go make this recipe with your favorite pasta (let me know what you prefer in the comments below!).

FUN SERVING SUGGESTIONS

This lemony pasta has got to be one of the most delicious lemon pasta recipes I’ve ever had! It’s perfect on its own but hey, here are the best ways you can serve it if you’re looking for ideas-

• Serve this incredible pasta dish fresh out of the pan. I wouldn’t suggest you waiting even 5-10 minutes before serving it because it just tastes so amazing nice and hot! You can top it up with some black pepper, fresh herbs like parsley, chives, green onions, thyme or whatever you like as well as some more Parmesan cheese.
• Serve this pasta with lemons along with this Pan Fried Chicken Breast or with this Garlic Butter Chicken or with this Chicken Milanese for a delicious meaty crunch along with that creamy tangy sauce, yum!
• You can also serve this lemony pasta with a large bowl of delicious fresh green salad. Or even roast veggies or pan-fried veggies. You can use some cherry tomatoes (love the tang of cherry tomatoes here) or literally any veggies you like.
• You can also serve this pasta with lemons with a large bowl of pasta salad (pasta salad for a pasta bonanza!). That fresh pasta salad along with this indulgent creamy dish will add to the fun if you’re into it.
• This creamy lemon pasta is such an easy weeknight dinner. To make it even more filling, serve it along with some garlic bread. Ah, garlic bread dipped into that creamy lemony sauce is incredible! Such a good idea.
• Go ahead and sprinkle some red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper or paprika over your pasta with creamy sauce before serving for a kick of heat! Be careful, a little spice goes a long way here.
• Some crunch adds the best texture here (crispy and creamy!). Top your creamy pasta with some breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs to make things crunchy. Maybe even some breadsticks or croutons! You can add some crispy fried shallots, garlic or onions as well (yum).

TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST SPAGHETTONI RECIPE EVERY SINGLE TIME

This is one delicious pasta dish. It’s the easiest weeknight dinner (such a good idea!) ever but hey, here are the best ways to make sure this lemon pasta comes out perfect every single time-

• Serve this incredible pasta dish fresh out of the pan. I wouldn’t suggest you waiting even 5-10 minutes before serving it because it just tastes so amazing hot and saucy! This is one of those pasta recipes that needs to be served immediately.
• The sauce here has very subtle hints of flavor so please always use high quality ingredients when making this creamy lemon pasta recipe.
• I don’t suggest using half and half here as it may split because of the lemon juice. The more fat in your cream the better.
• When making this lemon garlic pasta, you don’t need to stick to just spaghettoni. You can use any type of pasta you prefer!
• I’ve tried pre-grated Parmesan cheese and it just does not melt well enough and usually clumps up! Please always use fresh Parmesan and grate it yourself here.
• Make sure you cook your pasta until its al dente. This is important. Cooking your pasta until al dente ensures it doesn’t break and become mushy in the sauce. In this recipe, I usually cook about 2 minutes less than the package instructions and I suggest you do the same too.
• Please don’t cook your sauce over medium heat or medium-high heat. It can split and we don’t want that.
• I also suggest adding a little cream sauce to your lemon juice first, mixing it and then adding it to the creamy sauce rather than directly adding all the lemon juice to your sauce. This is to try and prevent your creamy sauce from splitting.
• Go ahead and reserve some pasta water to thicken up your cream sauce and to help that sauce stick to those pasta strands. Pasta water is the best and adds so much to a pasta dish!
• Love spice? For some medium heat add some red pepper flakes, paprika or cayenne pepper. Be careful when adding those red pepper flakes and/or spices though because just a little goes a long way.
• I don’t suggest storing this lemon pasta. It doesn’t store well and loses most of its creaminess. If you need to store it though, keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’ll stay good for 3 to 4 days. To reheat, add in some heavy cream and gently heat and stir over medium low heat. You can also check out my in-depth article on How to Reheat Alfredo Sauce for ideas on how to reheat a creamy sauce!

RECIPE & DIET VARIATIONS YOU CAN TRY

This pasta dish with its deliciously creamy sauce is one of my most favorite pasta recipes at the moment.

I usually used to love a classic Bolognese recipe… some pasta with tomato paste and tomato sauce or marinara sauce (you can check out my Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs Recipe or my Creamy Macarona Bechamel Pasta Recipe for some tomato-based pasta) but oh my goodness, the charm of a creamy pasta sauce is on a whole other level 💖.

But hey, there’s no comparison between the two and both these sauces are incredible in their own way.

The best thing about our simple recipe here is that you can do so much with it. Here are a few different ideas-

• Don’t worry if you don’t have spaghettoni. You can use spaghetti or any pasta you prefer! Our creamy zesty sauce works well with every pasta out there. You can use fresh pasta or dried pasta if you like.
• Parmesan cheese has to be one of the most delicious cheeses ever! It adds the most delicious deep nutty flavor to our lemon-y pasta sauce. You can use Pecorino Romano too if you like.
• You use gluten-free pasta as well. Or even spiralized zucchini or rice with this lush sauce!
• We haven’t made a meat sauce here. You can make a meat sauce though and add in whatever meat you prefer such as chicken, shrimp, fish… maybe even beef!
• Adding in some Italian seasoning is a good idea for some herby flavor. You can add in any fresh herbs you prefer too such as chives, thyme, parsley, green onions and/or whatever you prefer.
• Add in some veggies of you choice! You can add some spinach, sliced cherry tomatoes, mushrooms… whatever you prefer!
• You can add in seasonings of your choice too such as Cajun seasoning or Creole seasoning for a fun twist.
• Love spice 🔥? For some medium heat, go ahead and add some red pepper flakes, paprika or cayenne pepper. Be careful when adding those red pepper flakes and/or spices though because just a little goes a long way.

Note- If you think you have an ingredient that you feel is suitable as a substitute for a certain ingredient in this recipe, according to your dietary preference, you can use it and let us know how it works as a substitute in the comments below. I’ll then add it in as an adaptation suggestion here. This will help so many others with the same diet preference as yours.

❤❤❤