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asparagus pasta with fork in two white bowls
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Creamy Lemon Asparagus Pasta

This creamy asparagus pasta is a decadent and delicious meatless pasta recipe made with cream cheese, lemon, asparagus, and garlic. It's ready in only 30 minutes!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: creamy asparagus pasta
Servings: 4
Author: Natasha Bull

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces uncooked pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth or veg broth
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice + zest of 1/2 lemon
  • 8.8 ounces cream cheese (one block Philly) softened
  • 1 dash Italian seasoning
  • 1 bunch asparagus ends trimmed
  • For serving: freshly grated parmesan cheese, chopped parsley optional

Instructions

  • I strongly recommend letting the cream cheese sit on your counter for a bit to warm up prior to starting this recipe - it makes the process go a lot smoother.
  • Boil a salted pot of water for your pasta. Meanwhile, prep your ingredients. Cut the ends off the asparagus and discard them, and then cut the asparagus up into pieces.
  • Add the oil and butter to a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic in once it's hot and cook for 30 seconds.
  • Add the chicken broth, lemon juice + zest, cream cheese, and Italian seasoning to the pan. Cook, stirring often, until the sauce is nice and smooth.
  • Add the asparagus and cook for 5 minutes or until it's tender-crisp and the sauce has thickened to your liking. If the sauce becomes too thick, and some more chicken broth. Season the sauce with salt & pepper as needed.
  • Drain the pasta and toss it with the sauce. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese and/or parsley if desired.

Notes

  • I used fairly thin asparagus. If you buy the really thick kind, you'll have to cook it longer, so adjust timing as necessary. 
  • I love using my Microplane zester/grater for the lemon zest and the parmesan.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 483kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 428mg | Potassium: 423mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1492IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 3mg