Creamy Lemon Basil Pasta
A deliciously creamy vegetarian pasta dish that's super quick and easy.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta (I used penne)
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese softened
- Juice & zest of 1/2 lemon
- 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 1/2 cup of the pasta water prior to draining the pasta. Add 1/4 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.
- 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: 555kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 569mg | Potassium: 265mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1154IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 365mg | Iron: 2mg