Lemon pasta is one of my favorite dishes of Southern Italy. Lemon-scented cream sauce – that’s silky, peppery, and bursting with cheesy parmigiano goodness – coats each piece of pasta. It’s a true Italian masterpiece and an ode to my trip to the Amalfi Coast! Not to mention it’s such an easy dinner!
Lemon Pasta (AKA “Pasta al Limone” in Italian) is a classic, simple dish from the Campania region in Italy. It is most often enjoyed on the Amalfi Coast, in towns like Amalfi and Sorrento, where they’re famous for growing and making all-things lemon!
I so fondly remember sitting at a trattoria in Amalfi, Italy on my first night there, listening to corny Italian music – ready to try as many pasta dishes that could fit in my belly. I wanted to try all of the classics like bolognese, carbonara, puttanesca, etc. (the real, authentic way!). I asked our waiter, a burly Italian man, “so what’s a pasta I shouldn’t miss?” Without hesitation, he pointed to Spaghetti Al Limone on the menu.
In broken English, he explained that this mystery dish is a lightly creamy, simple lemon-infused pasta dish (of course featuring the lemons grown down the road). I was a bit thrown off by this strange concoction, but I was blown away when the first bite hit my mouth.
It was absolutely incredible: lemon scented, silky and peppery, with nutty and salty undertones from finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. The pasta was al-dente to balance the creaminess of the lemon sauce.
This is my best interpretation of the creamy lemon pasta I ate in Amalfi! Don’t forget to also try these other classic Italian pasta dishes like Pasta Carbonara the Amalfi way and my Pasta alla Genovese that’s just as delicious.
Lemon Pasta Ingredients
- Fettuccine or spaghetti – both fettuccine and spaghetti are classic pastas used for lemon pasta. I particularly love fettuccine!
- Heavy cream – heavy cream is the base for classic creamy lemon pasta. There’s really no good substitute for it!
- Parmigiano-Reggiano – Parmigiano-Reggiano is the traditional cheese used, adding both flavor and texture.
- Butter – butter enhances the flavor of the lemon.
- Fresh lemon juice – lemon juice cuts the richness of the cream.
- Lemon zest – lemon zest adds true lemon flavor.
- Black pepper – black pepper adds a subtle peppery flavor!
How to Make Lemon Pasta
Making lemon pasta is so easy! The full instructions and step-by-step video are in the recipe card below!
- Make sauce.
In a large skillet, add butter, lemon juice and zest over medium heat. Stirring occasionally, let the butter melt and simmer for 20 seconds. Pour in the cream, black pepper, and salt to taste.
- Reduce sauce.
Over medium/low heat, bring the cream mixture to a very gentle simmer. Once simmering, start boiling your pasta. Let the cream mixture thicken and reduce by about one-quarter while your pasta is boiling. Stir often. Cream mixture will reduce by one-quarter in about 10 minutes.
- Assemble.
Add parmesan cheese and toss over low heat. Drain pasta and use tongs to toss pasta into the cream mixture.
- Plate.
Plate with more black pepper, cheese, and a sprinkle of lemon zest.
Recipe Variations
Although lemon pasta is so perfect as-is, here are a few of my favorite additions (including proteins) and variations:
- Add chicken, like juicy baked chicken breast.
- Add Italian sausage, crumbled out of the casing or sliced.
- Add shrimp.
- Add herbs, such as fresh parsley or basil.
- Add garlic or roasted garlic, which is included in some versions of lemon pasta (2 minced cloves).
- Hot pepper flakes instead of black pepper, for a more fiery kick.
- Parmesan cheese instead of Parmigiano-Reggiano, which is a cheaper and less-aged version of parmigiano.
Tips for Making the Best Lemon Pasta
- Zest lemons before juicing them.
- Pasta should be al-dente, with a nice bite to it!
- If the cream mixture reduces by one-quarter before the pasta is done cooking, keep cream mixture on very low heat, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is done.
- This pasta is best served right away, hot!
What to Serve With Lemon Pasta
My favorite way to serve lemon pasta is as an appetizer (that’s how many Italians do it!). If you serve lemon pasta as a main dish, I recommend these fresh side dishes to accompany it:
- A salad, like this Italian Salad
- A simple vegetable like Broiled Asparagus or Roasted Green Beans
- Bread, like Garlic Bread
More Pasta Recipes You’ll Love!
Lemon Pasta (Pasta al Limone)
Ingredients
- 1 pound fettuccine or spaghetti
- 1 ¼ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more to garnish
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 ¼ teaspoon lemon zest, packed
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet, add butter, lemon juice and zest over medium heat. Stirring occasionally, let the butter melt and simmer for 20 seconds. Pour in the cream, black pepper, and salt to taste. Stir.
- Over medium/low heat, bring the cream mixture to a very gentle simmer. Once simmering, start boiling your pasta. Let the cream mixture thicken and reduce by about one-quarter while your pasta is boiling. Stir often. Cream mixture will reduce by one-quarter in about 8-10 minutes.
- Add parmesan cheese to sauce and stir over low heat. Drain pasta and use tongs to toss pasta into the cream mixture.
- Serve right away. Plate with more black pepper, cheese, and a sprinkle of lemon zest.
Video
Notes
- Zest lemons before juicing them.
- Pasta should be al-dente, with a nice bite to it!
- If the cream mixture reduces by one-quarter before the pasta is done cooking, keep cream mixture on very low heat, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is done.
- This pasta is best served right away, hot!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We just return to Australia from 2 weeks in Italy and discovered Pasta al Limone while there. I have to say your recipe is amazing… almost identical to the fabulous version we had in Sorrento. I will definitely make it again, and highly recommend to others – very authentic flavours – thank you so much for sharing Grace – bon appetit!
Hi Caroline,
Wow, what a compliment! Thanks so much for letting me know. It’s truly appreciated!
Grace
Yum! I love lemon pasta and this is so easy. Ive made it with shrimp, scallops and chicken so far.
Hi Paula,
Yum, sounds delish! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Grace
After having lemon pasta on the Amalfi Coast, I came home craving something similar. This recipe did the trick! It is SO GOOD! So glad I found this recipe! Highly recommend.
Hi Maria,
This made my day! Thanks so much for your comment 🙂
Grace
too sweet on its own, tastes like lemon posset 🙁
Hi Pip,
Ugh – I am so sorry you did not like the recipe. I’m not sure what ingredient could have added a sweet taste! Please let me know how I can help.
Grace
My family loved it!
Hi Beth,
Thanks so much for the comment! So happy the pasta was good 🙂
Grace
This was amazing! It was so light an refreshing. I added mushrooms and broccoli to it as well. My family loved it.
Hi Rana,
This is so great to hear. Love the mushroom and broccoli additions.
Grace
Wow, this was incredible! So simple to pull together, but so so delicious. Dare I say I like this even more than a mac & cheese?! I added onions, garlic, and dried parsley to simmer with the other ingredients and upped the lemon juice because I didn’t have any zest on hand. If you’re making this, my only suggestion is to reserve some pasta water to thin the sauce, especially if it will be sitting on the stove for longer than called for (which was my case). I ended up using almost a cup of pasta water to get the consistency I wanted.
Hi Taylor,
Love your ideas, especially the pasta water trick to help keep things fresh if you’re not serving right away! And agreed…mac and cheese, watch out!!
Grace
Indeed my most favorite
Loved this recipe. Will make this my go to lemon pasta dish!
Hi Grace,
I’m glad you like it as much as me!!
Grace
My favorite lemon pasta recipe for sure! Hubby Loves it too!
Hi Fellow Grace!
I’m so glad you two love it as much as I do! Thanks for letting me know 🙂
Grace
Loved
Fantastic to hear!
Grace