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+ servings
Creamy Lemon Basil Pasta

Creamy Lemon Basil Pasta

A deliciously creamy vegetarian pasta dish that's super quick and easy, featuring a delightful blend of lemon and basil.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Vegetarian Pasta
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 555 kcal

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • pot

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces pasta I used penne
  • ½ medium onion chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 package (8 ounce) cream cheese softened
  • ½ lemon juice & zest
  • 3 dashes Italian seasoning
  • 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 large handful fresh basil torn
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped finely
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Boil a salted pot of water and cook pasta according to package directions.
  • When the pasta water is about to boil, add olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 8-10 minutes, or until it's softened and lightly browned.
  • Add the garlic to the pan and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
  • Add the cream cheese, lemon juice and zest, and Italian seasoning. Stir for a couple of minutes until the cheese has melted into a sauce. Stir in the parmesan.
  • Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water prior to draining the pasta. Add ¼ cup of the pasta water to the sauce. If you want the sauce thinned even more, add pasta water one tablespoon at a time.
  • Once the sauce is thinned to your liking, add in the basil, parsley, and salt & pepper. Add the pasta to the skillet and toss. Serve immediately.

Notes

This recipe goes smoother if you let the cream cheese soften up for a bit (30+ minutes) prior to starting, or microwave it for 20-30 seconds.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 555kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 21gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 569mgPotassium: 265mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1154IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 365mgIron: 2mg
Keyword creamy lemon basil pasta, Delicious, Easy, pasta, quick, Vegetarian
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