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creamy lemon garlic pasta with spinach recipe - Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta with Spinach served in a white bowl overhead view
Chloe

Creamy Lemon Garlic Pasta with Spinach

creamy lemon garlic pasta with spinach recipe made easy at home. A bright, velvety pasta that comes together in under 30 minutes with just a handful of pantry
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Pasta & Sauce
  • 1 lb spaghetti or linguine
  • 4 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half for lightness
  • 1 lemon zested and juiced (about 2 Tbsp juice)
  • 5 oz baby spinach fresh, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
Pantry
  • 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • to taste salt and black pepper

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add sliced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Sauté gently until fragrant and just starting to turn pale gold, about 2 minutes—do not let it brown.
  3. Pour heavy cream and lemon juice into the skillet. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer. Let it bubble lightly for 1–2 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Add chopped spinach to the skillet. Stir just until wilted and vibrant green, about 1 minute. Turn off the heat.
  5. Add drained pasta and Parmesan to the skillet. Toss vigorously with tongs, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce is silky and coats each strand. Adjust seasoning.
  6. Divide among bowls. Top with extra Parmesan, lemon zest, a crack of black pepper, and a light drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately.