Description
Creamy Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta with Zucchini and Squash is a quick and comforting dish, perfect for a bright weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340g) fettuccine or linguine pasta
- 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter
- 4 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moons
- 1 medium yellow squash, sliced into half-moons
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Save about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced zucchini and yellow squash with a pinch of salt. Cook until tender, about 5-6 minutes. Remove veggies and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant and golden.
- Pour in heavy cream and stir to combine. Bring to a low simmer, then stir in fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. Slowly add grated Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and sauce thickens slightly.
- Add drained pasta and sautéed veggies back into the skillet. Toss gently, adding reserved pasta water to loosen sauce if too thick. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove from heat, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley if using, and toss gently. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan on the side.
Notes
- This dish is best served fresh.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Creamy Lemon Garlic Butter Pasta, Zucchini Pasta, Quick Pasta Recipe