Simple Lemon Pasta
July 8, 2025 • 0 comments
Out of motivation in the kitchen - but want to avoid takeout? Need a quick recipe that feeds the family with minimal effort? That's why we love this simple lemon pasta recipe. It's easy to customize with whatever you need to use up in the refrigerator (like extra greens, herbs, or cheese!) and can be made with nearly any ground meat to make it feel fresh and new -- but without any extra time or steps.
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Servings: 4
Directions
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground meat (like ground beef or ancestral ground beef, ground pork, mild Italian sausage, or extra sage sausage)
- 1 lb. preferred pasta (we like spaghetti or fettuccine here)
- 2 tbsp. butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp. lemon zest
- Juice of 1 lemon (or 1-2 tbsp fresh lemon juice)
- Sea salt and pepper, to taste
- Grated Parmesan cheese or crumbled feta (optional)
- Fresh herbs or chopped greens (optional)
Directions
- Prepare the pasta according to package instructions. When it's done, drain and rinse with cold water, then toss with the 2 tbsp. of butter and season with salt.
- While the pasta is cooking, cook the ground meat in a skillet over medium to medium-high heat, breaking up into small pieces as it browns.
- When meat is almost all the way brown, add minced garlic, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes. Add lemon juice, zest, and salt and pepper, stirring for about 1 minute, and turn off. Add optional cheese, greens, or herbs. Taste and season accordingly.
- To make it a one-pot meal, add the meat mixture to the pasta and toss to distribute evenly, then serve. Or serve separately if you have picky kids (like us!)
- Want to bulk this meal up a bit? Serve with sautéed greens or a salad.
