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–+ servings
A bowl of creamy lemon pepper pasta topped with grated cheese and cracked black pepper, served with a fork and a side of lemon wedges.

Lemon Pepper Pasta

Our quick lemon pepper pasta recipe is bright, creamy and ready in about 20 minutes. With a creamy, brown butter infused sauce, its simple sauce is loaded with vibrant lemon zest and lots of fresh cracked black pepper to create an elegant pasta dish that's indulgent without getting too heavy.
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Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings 8 servings

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound malfadine pasta (other other thick pasta)
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 - 3 teaspoons coarse black pepper (freshly cracked)
  • ⅓ cup heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon coarse salt (plus more for the pasta water)
  • 2 tablespoons grated pecorino roman cheese

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of pasta water. Drain and set aside.
  • Brown the butter. While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Continue cooking, stirring frequently to prevent burning, until it smells nutty and turns golden brown, about 5 minutes.
  • Make the sauce. Add the garlic and lemon zest to the browned butter, and cook until fragrant - about 30 seconds. Then, stir in the lemon juice, black pepper and heavy cream. Whisk the sauce until smooth.
    Remove the pan from the heat and allow the sauce to cool for a few minutes. Then, whisk in the cheese until melted and smooth.
  • Toss with sauce. Return the pasta to the pot and add the lemon pepper sauce with about a 1/4 cup of pasta water. Stir to coat. If the sauce seems thick, add more pasta water a splash at a time until it coats the pasta evenly.
  • Garnish and serve. Plate the pasta and garnish with extra cheese and lemon zest (optional). Serve immediately.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcal Carbohydrates: 44g Protein: 8g Fat: 10g Saturated Fat: 6g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 0.2g Cholesterol: 28mg Sodium: 212mg Potassium: 156mg Fiber: 2g Sugar: 2g Vitamin A: 329IU Vitamin C: 3mg Calcium: 40mg Iron: 1mg