Description
This creamy lemon garlic sauce is perfect for pasta lovers seeking a bright, tangy, and garlicky flavor boost. Made with butter, fresh garlic, lemon zest and juice, Parmesan cheese, and half and half, it’s a quick and decadent sauce that pairs beautifully with your favorite pasta.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Sauce
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 4 garlic cloves, grated with a microplane
- 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 cups half and half (not fat free)
- Zest of 1 lemon, about 1 tsp.
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley
- Kosher salt and fresh black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Melt Butter and Cook Garlic: In a 12-inch non-stick skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add the grated garlic and cook for 30 seconds while stirring constantly until fragrant.
- Add Flour and Cook: Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute until lightly golden, stirring continuously to remove the raw flour taste without burning it.
- Incorporate Half and Half: Gradually add the half and half while stirring to prevent lumps. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Whisk out any lumps.
- Add Lemon and Cheese: Whisk in lemon juice and zest. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and parsley. The cheese will melt immediately into the sauce.
- Serve Immediately: Use the sauce right away over pasta or as a base for other dishes.
Notes
- For a smoother sauce, grate garlic and Parmesan cheese with a microplane; freshly grated Parmesan melts better than pre-grated.
- This recipe yields about 2 cups of sauce, suitable for 8 ounces of dry pasta.
- Leftover sauce thickens when cooled; thin it out with white wine, reserved pasta water, milk, or half and half as needed.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
