Welcome to your new favorite weeknight dinner! This Creamy Roast Garlic and Lemon Pasta is the perfect marriage of bright, zesty lemon and deep, sweet roasted garlic, all wrapped in a lusciously smooth cream sauce. It’s an elegant dish that feels gourmet but comes together with surprising ease, making it ideal for both quiet nights in and impressing guests. If you’re looking for a recipe that delivers on comfort and flavor, you’ve found it. Get ready to fall in love with this simple yet sophisticated pasta that will have everyone asking for seconds.
The magic of this dish lies in its two star ingredients. Roasting garlic transforms it from pungent and sharp to mellow, sweet, and nutty. When blended into a cream sauce with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, it creates a flavor profile that is both rich and refreshing. It’s a restaurant-quality meal you can easily whip up in your own kitchen.
Simple ingredients, extraordinary flavor.
Why This Creamy Roast Garlic and Lemon Pasta is a Must-Try
Incredibly Flavorful: The combination of sweet roasted garlic, tangy lemon, and savory Parmesan cheese creates a sauce that is simply irresistible.
Simple, Accessible Ingredients: You only need a handful of pantry staples to create this impressive dish. No complicated or hard-to-find items required!
Perfect for Any Occasion: It’s quick enough for a weeknight meal but feels special enough for a date night or dinner party.
Customizable: This recipe is a fantastic base. Feel free to add grilled chicken, shrimp, or your favorite vegetables to make it your own. For a similar vibe with a cheesy twist, you might also enjoy our Boursin Chicken Recipe.
Key Ingredients for the Perfect Pasta
The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity. Here’s what you’ll need to create this masterpiece:
The secret to the perfect pasta dish is a sauce that coats every single piece.
Garlic: We’ll use a whole head of garlic. Roasting it is key to developing that sweet, caramelized flavor that defines the dish.
Pasta: Orecchiette, fettuccine, or linguine work wonderfully. Choose a pasta that can hold onto the creamy sauce.
Heavy Cream: This creates the luxurious, velvety texture of the sauce.
Lemon: We’ll use both the zest and the juice for a bright, multi-layered citrus flavor.
Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese adds a salty, nutty depth and helps to thicken the sauce.
Red Pepper Flakes: An optional touch for a gentle warmth.
Fresh Parsley: For a fresh, herby finish and a pop of color.
Salt and Black Pepper: To season and enhance all the flavors.
How to Make Creamy Roast Garlic and Lemon Pasta Step-by-Step
Follow these simple steps to create a pasta dish that’s bursting with flavor. We’ll start by roasting the garlic to perfection.
1. Roast the Garlic
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice the top quarter off a whole head of garlic to expose the cloves. Place it on a small piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap the foil around the garlic and roast for 30-40 minutes, or until the cloves are soft, fragrant, and golden brown.
2. Cook the Pasta
While the garlic is roasting, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Just before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. This is a crucial ingredient for a perfect sauce!
3. Create the Creamy Lemon Sauce
Once the garlic is roasted and cool enough to handle, squeeze the soft cloves out of their skins into a small bowl and mash with a fork. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the mashed roasted garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth. For those who love rich, savory pasta dishes, our Cajun Steak Pasta offers a spicier, heartier alternative.
4. Combine and Serve
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Toss everything together, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water as needed to reach your desired consistency. The starchy water helps the sauce cling to the pasta beautifully. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese.
Tips for the Best Roasted Garlic Pasta
Don’t Rush the Roast: The key to incredible flavor is properly roasted garlic. Make sure the cloves are completely soft and caramelized before adding them to your sauce.
Use Fresh Ingredients: For the best taste, use fresh lemon juice and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. The bottled stuff just doesn’t compare!
Reserve Pasta Water: I can’t stress this enough! The starchy pasta water is liquid gold. It emulsifies the sauce, making it extra creamy and helping it adhere to every nook and cranny of the pasta.
Salt Your Pasta Water: Make sure your pasta water is well-salted (it should taste like the sea). This seasons the pasta from the inside out and is the first step to a flavorful dish. For another fantastic creamy dinner, try this deliciously Creamy Herb Chicken.
Variations and Add-Ins
This Creamy Roast Garlic and Lemon Pasta is fantastic on its own, but it’s also a great canvas for other ingredients. Here are a few ideas:
Add Protein: Grilled chicken, seared shrimp, or flaky salmon would all be delicious additions.
To roast garlic, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Cut the top quarter-inch off the head of garlic to expose the tops of the cloves. Drizzle with olive oil, wrap it in foil, and bake for 30-40 minutes until the cloves are soft and golden.
Yes, you can substitute the heavy cream with full-fat coconut cream or a cashew-based cream. Use a high-quality vegan Parmesan cheese alternative and a plant-based butter to make it fully vegan.
Long pastas like fettuccine, linguine, or pappardelle are great choices. Shapes with ridges or cups, such as rigatoni, penne, or orecchiette, are also excellent for catching and holding onto the creamy sauce.
To prevent curdling, make sure you add the lemon juice at the very end of the cooking process over low heat. Whisk it in quickly and avoid boiling the sauce after the citrus has been added.
Storing and Reheating
You can store leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm it in a skillet over low heat. You may need to add a splash of milk or cream to loosen the sauce and bring back its creamy consistency. I do not recommend freezing this dish, as dairy-based sauces can separate upon thawing.
What to Serve with Your Pasta
This dish is wonderful on its own, but a simple side can complete the meal. A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette, some crusty bread for dipping in the extra sauce, or steamed green beans would all be excellent choices.
More Recipes You’ll Love
FL Recipes
Creamy Roast Garlic and Lemon Pasta: The Ultimate Comfort Dish
This Creamy Roast Garlic and Lemon Pasta features a lusciously smooth sauce made from sweet roasted garlic, bright lemon, and Parmesan. It's an easy, elegant, and incredibly flavorful weeknight dinner that feels like a gourmet treat.
1lbpastasuch as orecchiette, fettuccine, or linguine
1.5cupsheavy cream
1large lemonzested and juiced
1cupParmesan cheesefreshly grated, plus more for serving
2tbspbutter
0.5tspred pepper flakesoptional
0.25cupfresh parsleychopped, for garnish
Salt and freshly ground black pepperto taste
Equipment
1 Large Pot
1 Large Skillet
1 Baking Foil
Method
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice the top off the head of garlic, place on foil, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, wrap, and roast for 30-40 minutes until soft and golden.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves into a bowl and mash. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add mashed garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute. Stir in heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and whisk in Parmesan cheese until smooth.
Add the drained pasta, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the skillet. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 750kcalProtein: 22gFat: 45gFiber: 3g
Notes
Tip 1: Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the smoothest sauce. Pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy. Tip 2: Don't forget to salt your pasta water generously! It's the first and most important step to a well-seasoned dish. Tip 3: Adjust the amount of lemon juice to your taste. Start with half and add more if you prefer a brighter, more citrus-forward flavor.
Keyword creamy lemon pasta,easy pasta recipe,roasted garlic pasta
We hope you love this Creamy Roast Garlic and Lemon Pasta recipe! It’s a true testament to how simple ingredients can create something truly special. If you try it, please leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We love hearing from you! For more recipe inspiration, be sure to follow us on Pinterest.
You won't believe how easy it is to make this restaurant-quality Creamy Roast Garlic and Lemon Pasta at home!
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
