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Close up of Lemon Pasta in a skillet with lemon slices and fresh basil.
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5 from 6 votes

Creamy Lemon Pasta

This lemon pasta is made with spaghetti and fresh basil tossed in a silky lemon cream sauce. It's delicious, comforting and easy to make. You'd never know it was dairy-free!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Entree
Cuisine: American, Italian
Servings: 4
Calories: 440kcal
Author: Alissa Saenz

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces dried spaghetti
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup full-fat coconut milk (from a can)
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste (I use a full teaspoon, but that may be a lot for some folks.)
  • 1 cup roughly chopped fresh basil
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the spaghetti. Cook it according to the package directions, then drain it into a colander.
  • Start the sauce while the pasta cooks. Coat the bottom of a medium skillet with the oil and add the garlic and flour.
  • Cook the mixture for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic becomes very fragrant.
  • Stir in the coconut milk, lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon of salt.
  • Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for about 5 minutes, until thickened slightly.
  • Remove the skillet from heat and add the pasta, basil, red pepper flakes, and lemon zest. Toss the pasta to coat it with sauce.
  • Taste-test the pasta and season it with additional salt and black pepper to taste. Adjust any other seasonings to suit your taste.
  • Serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 440kcal | Carbohydrates: 57.9g | Protein: 10.9g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 10.8g | Sodium: 304mg | Potassium: 320mg | Fiber: 3.6g | Sugar: 3.8g | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 3mg