On Monday I posted a “fifteen minute” recipe, and today I’m posting a “twenty minute” recipe…I guess I got a little carried away with my quick and easy meals this week! I’ll tell you something, though. Neither of these meals taste like they took twenty minutes or less to make.
You know what is an absolutely delicious trio of flavors? I’ll tell you…lemon, parmesan, and garlic. Something about those three together just make anything taste absolutely wonderful. Like this pasta! The garlic and parmesan bring depth and richness, and the lemon makes the dish so bright and fresh. Everything plays off of each other so nicely ???.
Not only does this pasta taste wonderful because of our magic (lemon, parmesan, and garlic) trio, it is also ridiculously easy to make! Cook the pasta, simmer the five ingredient sauce until the pasta is done, and that’s it! So simple. A perfect, quick weeknight dinner.
I do have to tell you, though…I absolutely love this recipe, but I absolutely hate these pictures. Ugh. It pains me to post them right now, but the pasta is good enough to make it worth publishing! It was getting a little dark, and I just don’t like how they turned out. Blech.
Other food bloggers out there? I know you feel me on this right now…it sucks posting pictures that you aren’t totally happy with. But trust me!! The recipe is wonderful ?.
Are you all getting a bunch of snow right now ❄️❄️??☃☃?? I know a lot of areas of the country are getting absolutely POURED (probably not the right word to use for snow) on right now. We got a bunch on Thursday, and school was canceled – woop woop!!
It was a close call though…It about didn’t happen. School wasn’t canceled the night before, so I assumed I would have a text waiting for me when I woke up telling us they called it off. So I woke up, got the text, but they said we WERE going to have school!! I was totally shocked because we had a lot of snow…there was probably five inches on the road outside my house.
They said they would give us another update by seven, so I waited until then to actually get up, realllyyyy hoping they would cancel by that point (I really really HATE driving in snow…it scares me ?). Seven o’clock rolled around, and we got another text saying that school was still on. So, quite sadly, I dragged myself out of bed and got ready. As I was walking to my car, I received another text saying that school would in fact be canceled for the day.
Thank goodness! Better late than never. I was very happy to not have to drive in the snow. Instead I was SUPER productive and just watched New Girl for most of the day.
Yay for snow days and New Girl and lemon, parmesan pasta!
- 1 box whole wheat angel hair (or other thin pasta)
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- ¼ cup butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 cup grated parmesan, plus more for topping
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
- Bring a pot of seasoned water (it should taste like the ocean) to a boil over high heat
- Cook your pasta until it is al dente
- To make your sauce, melt the butter in a large skillet
- Add your olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and pepper flakes
- Simmer this sauce lightly until your pasta is cooked through
- Drain your pasta
- Add the pasta and parmesan cheese to the sauce and toss to combine
- If your pasta sits out for a while and gets dry, add a little extra olive oil or butter to bring back some of the moisture
In the mood for more quick and easy recipes? Check these out!
Simple Kale Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Strips
Paul says
April 13, 2018 at 5:11 amHi Annie
I just cooked this for my pasta loving better half on a Friday night in Australia. I had my doubts when I compared the amount of sauce to pasta but I shouldn’t have doubted your recipe, the tastes were perfect, what a great dish! Thank you very much
Annie Chesson says
May 1, 2018 at 10:04 amYay!! So glad this turned out well for you! It’s such a quick, simple, and yummy recipe :)!
Teresa Torchia says
October 29, 2017 at 9:19 pmThis pasta was excellent! I served it with Ina’s Parmesan chicken. My Italian hubby LOVED it! This dish will be added to my regular rotation.Thank u!
Annie Chesson says
October 29, 2017 at 9:33 pmYay!! So glad you both loved it :).
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
January 25, 2016 at 10:50 amYou can totally keep the 20 minute (or less) delicious meals coming, Annie! Garlic, lemon and parmesan is a magical flavor combo and lovingly coating some pasta sounds fab! I’ll take a few bowls, please! Woot woot to snow and no work for you! We got snow here too, I loved every minute of it! Too bad I didn’t have any of this scrumptiousness to keep me warm! Cheers, doll!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Bacon & Scallion Farro Stuffed Acorn Squash
Annie Chesson says
January 25, 2016 at 12:52 pmMore quick and easy meals it is :)! Thanks, Cheyanne!!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
January 25, 2016 at 7:55 amQuick and easy pasta dishes like this are what I live for! I just love the combination of parmesan and lemon too. YUM!
Annie Chesson says
January 25, 2016 at 10:30 amMe too, Dannii :). Thanks!
Amanda says
January 24, 2016 at 1:30 pmDriving in the snow is the worst, or driving on the ice. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live somewhere tropical 24/7. Some people say you’d get sick of it, but I definitely would not! :)
This dish looks amazing, and I love that it’s ready in twenty minutes. And the lemon sounds fantastic!
Annie Chesson says
January 25, 2016 at 10:34 amOh yeah, I’m with you on that one. I prefer hot to cold any day. Cold weather just hurts! It hurts your skin and your joints…I just don’t like it ?. Thanks, Amanda!
Keri @ Fashionable Foods says
January 23, 2016 at 11:24 amGlad you didn’t have to drive in the snow! I live in the northeast and nothing really shuts down unless there’s a TON of snow – I actually totaled my car 2 years ago trying to get to work, so now I’m absolutely TERRIFIED of driving in the snow! This pasta looks delicious – I looooove quick and easy pasta dishes!
Keri @ Fashionable Foods recently posted…Ground Turkey and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Annie Chesson says
January 24, 2016 at 9:00 amThanks, Keri :).Oh my gosh! Yeah, I would definitely be terrified too if I had a bad car wreck in the snow. I’m glad you’re okay!